SARASOTA - Authorities say a school bus driver is to blame for an accident with a van.
It happened on Clark Road near an I-75 on-ramp around 8:45am Wednesday.
According to Florida Highway Patrol, the bus was westbound on Clark and trying to make a left turn onto the on-ramp when a semi was blocking its way. The truck driver reportedly motioned to the bus driver that the road was clear. As the bus driver made the turn, a eastbound van rammed into the side of the bus.
An adult and four children were inside the van at the time. They were all taken to Doctors Hospital with minor injuries. No one on the bus was injured.
“I would like to advise people if someone waves you across and there are several lanes of traffic and you're depending on a complete stranger to give you the right of away, do not take it. You have to make your own decisions out here. People are trying to be kind, but they don't always see what is behind them or in their blind spots,” says Trooper Ken Wasson of Florida Highway Patrol.
There were 32 students on the bus on their way to Pine View. Another school bus came to pick up the children.
Authorities charged the bus driver with violating the van's right of way.
