HIALEAH, FLA. (WSVN) - Two children are expected to be OK after paramedics attended to them when the school bus they and 10 other students were on crashed into a car and a building at an intersection in Hialeah.
Hialeah Fire Rescue crews responded to the scene of the crash near a CVS Pharmacy along East First Avenue, near Northwest 54th Street, at around 5 p.m., Friday.
Officials said the bus and a red sedan collided at the intersection, causing the chain-reaction crash.
Alexander, who did not disclose his last name, said he witnessed the moment of impact.
“I just see a red car come out of nowhere, and the bus hit it, and the bus hit the building,” he said, “and then I see [smoke] come out of the [bus].”
7News cameras captured the bus with severe front-end damage.
Witnesses described the chaotic scene.
“It was flaming up in smoke,” said Abel Garcia. “As soon as I saw it — I was going into the CVS — and it literally just blew up in flames.”
Cameras also showed the red sedan with significant damage to its side.
Cameras also showed debris from the bus next to a column in the building.
Cellphone video showed the students moments after they exited the bus.
“I see a bunch of kids coming out from the back, and this girl came and hugged me,” said Alexander. “Her teeth were bleeding, and I see another kid injured, too.”
A short time later, concerned parents arrived at the scene and were seen hugging and kissing their children.
The intersection where the crash took place was shut down for hours while police investigated.
7Skyforce HD hovered above the scene as the wrecked bus sat at the closed-off intersection next to skid marks that appeared to show the path of the collision.
Building inspectors arrived at the scene to assess structural damage to the building.
The injured children were treated for minor injuries.
No one was transported.
Police are attempting to determine the chain of events that led to the crash.
The bus belongs to Nelson’s School Bus. The driver, who is also the owner of the business, declined to say what caused the crash.
“It was a very ugly situation,” he said in Spanish.
Witnesses said they’re grateful the outcome of the crash wasn’t worse.
“Everybody’s blessed today, thanks to the Lord,” said Garcia.
Friday night, cameras showed a tow truck removing the bus from the scene.
Copyright 2024 Sunbeam Television Corp. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.