SUV Crashes Into Manatee County School Bus

BRADENTON, FL — A 76-year-old Lakewood Ranch man was critically injured Monday when his 2015 Hyundai Tucson crashed into a Manatee County School District bus. None of the three children aboard the bus were injured but a 46-year-old Bradenton woman suffered minor injuries.

The driver of the SUV, identified as Richard McLeod Jr., was taken to Sarasota Memorial Hospital with critical injuries, according to Sergeant Jason R Moore of the Florida Highway Patrol. The crash occurred shortly before 8 a..m.

Camara Mosley, who was one of two adults on the school bus, reported a minor injury but was not taken to the hospital. The bus driver was identified as 38-year-old Mendel Beckford of Bradenton. He was not injured.

The three children were all boys, ages 5, 9 and 12, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The Hyundai was traveling northbound on U.S. 41 in the center lane approaching Florida Boulevard while the school bus was stopped on U.S. 41 facing south as the driver waited to make a left turn onto 66th Avenue W from the center "continuous left turn" lane, Moore said. He said McLeod began to drift from the center lane to the left lane as the school bus started moving.

The left front of the Hyundai collided with the left front of the school bus, according to Moore. The Hyundai then spun around counterclockwise before coming to rest across the left and center lanes of U.S. 41 facing westbound.

The school bus came to rest in the center left turn lane of southbound U.S. 41, Moore said.

Photo courtesy Manatee County School District