Based on the evidence at the scene, the school bus was traveling west on West Pipkin Road approaching Medulla Road when, at the same time, the bicyclist was attempting to make a left turn northbound onto Medulla Road from the eastbound left turn lane. The bicyclist crossed into the path of the school bus and was struck.
There were eight passengers on the school bus who ranged in age from 8 to 11 who attended the South McKeel Academy and McKeel Academy Central. Neither the bus driver nor the passengers were injured.
The roadway was shut down for approximately 4 hours to process the scene for the ongoing investigation.
Anyone with information regarding the crash is asked to contact Traffic Crash Investigator Officer Camilo Almeida at [email protected].
Driver:
Nina Lewis
Age: 71
Lakeland, FL
Bicyclist:
Male
Age: 15
Lakeland, FL
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Original Media Release sent at 11:00 a.m.
FATAL CRASH INVOLVING A SCHOOL BUS
LAKELAND, FL (December 5, 2023) – On Tuesday, December 5, 2023, at approximately 6:58 a.m., officers were dispatched to the 3900 block of Pipkin Road for a traffic crash involving a bicyclist. At the scene, officers located an unresponsive male who had been struck by a Schools of McKeel Academy school bus.
The Lakeland Police Department, Polk County Fire Rescue, and the Lakeland Fire Department all arrived to begin life-saving measures. The male was transported to Lakeland Regional Health where despite the best efforts of medical professionals, was pronounced deceased. It was learned that the bicyclist was a 15-year-old student who
attended Central Florida Aerospace Academy.
Preliminarily, based on evidence found at the scene, officers believe the bicyclist was attempting to cross Pipkin Road when he was struck by the bus. The driver of the bus remained at the scene and was not injured.
