A school bus carrying 19 children was recently struck by a car in The Villages as the driver fled police officers.
The 23-year-old driver, who was later apprehended by cops, sideswiped two parked cars before slamming head-on into the bus on a recent Tuesday morning, according to news reports. Fortunately, no one on the bus was injured.
A Sumter County Sheriff’s Office deputy attempted to pull over the driver after clocking him speeding in a school zone. The driver reportedly was going 17 miles per hour over the speed limit near the Villages Intermediate Center.
He sped off instead of pulling over and eventually slammed into the bus on County Road 103. The man then fled on foot through a nearby Walmart parking lot, where a deputy apprehended him. The driver was booked at the Sumter County Detention Center on charges of fleeing and eluding, driving with a suspended license, marijuana possession, and leaving the scene of a crash.
The sheriff’s office said the man already had two outstanding warrants for fleeing and eluding and driving with a suspended license.
“I have zero tolerance when it comes to actions that put our children’s lives in danger,” Sumter County Sheriff Pat Breeden said in a statement. “This suspect has a history of this type of behavior and our community is safer with him off our streets.”
A Different Spin on an Old Problem
The crash underscores the wide range of ways hit-and-run accidents happen. In this case, the driver tried to elude cops, but people involved in crashes often speed off and try to carry on with their daily lives.
More than 100,000 hit-and-run crashes occur statewide each year, according to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. The collisions cause nearly 300 deaths and more than 800 serious injuries annually.
An 89-year-old Villages resident was recently injured after a hit-and-run driver in a car struck her golf cart, for instance. The woman was ejected from her golf cart after it was struck by a Toyota Corolla, whose driver was later tracked down and charged.
Another Villager last year reportedly suffered a serious brain injury when the golf cart she was traveling in was struck by a car that sped off. The woman sustained other injuries, including 14 broken ribs, a broken clavicle, a broken scapula, and punctured lungs.
How a Villages Accident Attorney Can Help
If you or a loved one has been injured in a car or other accident, it is vital to seek the advice of an experienced injury attorney. Villages accident attorney Tim Babiarz has been fighting for people and families across the community for more than two decades.
Our office is conveniently located in the Villages. We also proudly represent clients throughout the area, including Ocala, Leesburg, Lady Lake, Wildwood, Summerfield, and beyond. Call (352) 205-7559 or contact us online to schedule a free consultation with a Villages accident attorney.
