Manatee County crash with SUV, school buses sends several to hospital, FHP says

A crash involving an SUV and three school buses in Manatee County sent several people to the hospital on Saturday night, including a critically injured 2-year-old, according to Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash happened around 8:18 p.m. on State Road 70, near Palmbrush Trail in the Lakewood Ranch area, the agency said.

Troopers say a 32-year-old Tampa woman was driving a Ford SUV east on State Road 70 in the outside lane.

Three school buses from Fort Pierce Central High School in St. Lucie County were stopped in the lane ahead of the SUV in single file, FHP said. The buses were carrying 90 students and six adults from the high school, the agency said.

The SUV crashed into the back of the third bus in the line, and it set off a chain reaction as the third bus hit the second bus and the second bus hit the first bus, FHP said.

The SUV caught fire after the crash, troopers said.

A 2-year-old boy inside the SUV had critical injuries, and emergency responders airlifted him to an area hospital, according to FHP. Emergency responders took the Tampa woman to a hospital with minor injuries.

Troopers said six of the students riding in the buses had minor injuries and were also taken to a hospital.

The crash remains under investigation, according to FHP.