UPDATE to traffic crash in Fort Meade this morning:
Some of this information has changed from what we previously released, as this is a fluid situation:
Just after 6:00 a.m. this morning the PCSO ECC began receiving 911 calls regarding a two-vehicle crash on US Hwy 98 East, between Adams Rd and Avon Park Cutoff Road.
The vehicles involved are a tanker truck that was transporting unleaded fuel, and a migrant worker bus owned by Overlook Harvesting in Winter Haven. The bus had 38 people on it, heading to Plant City to pick strawberries.
One person on the bus died at the scene. Nine people on the bus were transported to the following hospitals: Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, Sebring Hospital, Lake Wales Hospital, and Tampa General Hospital.
The tanker driver was transported with less serious injuries to Bartow Regional Medical Center.
According to the investigation so far, the bus was heading westbound and for unknown reasons it crossed over into the eastbound lane and struck the tanker head-on as the tanker was heading eastbound.
Some fuel leaked from the tanker. The rest of the fuel is in the process of being transferred to another tanker, and the roads will remain closed until that is complete.
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UPDATE to traffic crash in Fort Meade between a semi-tanker truck and a grove worker transport bus:
There were 38 occupants of the bus, and of those, one is deceased, four were trauma alerted to Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, and four were taken to Sebring Hospital. The semi-tanker driver was transported to Bartow Regional Medical Center.
The roadway is still shut down in that area.
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The Polk County Sheriff’s Office is on the scene of a traffic crash on US Hwy 98 East at Adams Rd in Fort Meade involving a semi-tanker truck and white grove worker transport bus. There are multiple injuries and at least one fatality. The roadway in that area is shut down until further notice. Please avoid the area and use alternate routes.
