9 people, including 7 students, injured when log truck driven by Shannon Sherrell Ford, 35, collided with a school bus on U.S. 301 in Bradford County, Florida

There are at least 17 emergency vehicles on the scene including the Bradford County Sheriff’s Office and the Clay County Fire & Rescue department. 

A Bradford County school bus carrying elementary school students was rear-ended by a tractor-trailer Monday afternoon near the intersection of U.S. 301 and State Road 201A in Lawtey.

Witnesses described the dump truck as being out of control when it hit the bus. The impact was enough to dislodge the truck’s motor. The Florida Highway Patrol said U.S. 301 is detoured to Morgan Road and then to Florida 16 before turning back to U.S. 301.

A female passenger in a semi-truck was naked when it slammed into a school bus Monday afternoon, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Seven students were taken to the hospital after the crash in Bradford County.

Troopers say Shannon Sherrell Ford, 35, was driving the log-hauling big rig when it struck the school bus that was slowing to drop off students on U.S. 301 at NW 183rd Street, just south of Lawtey, about 2:45 p.m. According to the FHP, the bus had it's flashing yellow lights and stop arm extended when it was struck.

Nassau Sheriff Bill Leeper said a deputy spotted the rig after a caller said brakes on the truck seemed to be smoking and a wheel appeared to be coming loose.

Two of the children injured in the crash remained hospitalized Tuesday following surgery, said Bradford County Sheriff’s Capt. Brad Smith. “From the waist down she was naked, and partially clothed from the waist up. The man had clothing on,” Smith said. “People assume they were up to no good but we don’t know for sure, so make whatever inferences you want to make.”