JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Parents said they were shocked after a semi rear-ended a school bus carrying about 30 kindergarten students on Zoo Parkway, injuring at least four students.
The crash happened around 10:30 a.m. Thursday on Zoo Parkway near Imeson Park Boulevard.
According to a message from Duval County Public Schools to district families, the bus was from San Pablo Elementary School, and the parents of the four injured students have been contacted.
“Hello San Pablo kindergarten families. This is Duval County Public Schools with important information. One of the buses transporting kindergarten students to the zoo from San Pablo this morning was involved in an accident, and at least three students sustained injuries. We are in direct contact with the families of those students. Again, we are in direct contact with the families of the students who sustained injuries. All other students are safe, and school staff are on site with them. We are continuing to gather more information and will provide updates as soon as possible. Please stand by for additional details regarding a student pick-up plan.”
JFRD later updated the school district and said that four students were injured and required transport.
Parents said they never imagined their child’s school bus would be a semi-truck, and the damage left behind shows just how serious this was.
When News4JAX arrived on the scene, Durham School Services, their safety team, and paramedics checked the children as parents arrived to pick them up.
As families walked past, children could be heard saying, “Mom, my head hurts.”
A parent who was also a chaperone was waiting for her six-year-old daughter to arrive at the zoo when she learned her daughter was on that bus.
She said a teacher notified her right away, then she saw the images circulating online.
“I was like freaking out,” Axia Booker said. “Luckily, one of the CSOs knows me because we used to work together. So he called me and told me to get here because my daughter told him my mom works at where I work at. The bus, she was on the bus and it hit them. She like went for it, hit her head on the window, but she was fine. Um, she said she was crying for me, but like other than that, she seems to be doing okay.
Another parent said an extra adult should be on board in an emergency situation.
“It can become confusing in an emergency, especially for younger children,” Kristen Goult said.
News4JAX will give updates on the other students who were transported to the hospital as soon as they become available, but Principal Brown sent a new communication to San Pablo Elementary families.
In moments like this, the strength of our community truly matters. Thank you for keeping our kindergarten students in your thoughts and prayers following today’s bus accident.
While the situation could have been far worse, it was understandably a frightening experience for our young students. I know many of you are holding your children a little closer today. I am in direct contact with the families of students who required medical transport. While I’m unable to share specific medical details, I am encouraged by the updates I’ve received regarding their condition and recovery. Please continue to keep these students and families in your thoughts. I will follow up next week with information about rescheduling the kindergarten field trip. In the meantime, I hope you have a safe and restful long weekend, and we look forward to welcoming our students back next week.
Principal Brown, San Pablo Elementary