Off-duty Gainesville officer seriously hurt after rear-ending stopped school bus; driver, aide, student hospitalized

MARION COUNTY, Fla. – An off-duty Gainesville Police Department officer rear-ended a stopped Marion County School bus on Friday morning, with its flashing lights and stop signs activated, the Florida Highway Patrol said. The bus driver, a 9-year-old student, and a bus aide were taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

FHP said at about 6:55 a.m., the bus was stopped facing southbound in the outside lane of SW 49 Avenue Road at the intersection of SW 82 Place Road to pick children up at a bus stop. The bus’s flashing lights were activated, and the stop signs were extended.

Then an off-duty GPD officer driving his marked Ford Explorer was driving southbound in the same lane behind the school bus and failed to see the stopped bus, and the front of his car collided with the rear of the bus, FHP said.

There were 13 students on board, along with the bus driver, 37, and a bus aide, 54. A 9-year-old student, the driver, and the aide were taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.

The officer was taken to the hospital with very serious injuries.