A school bus was stopped to pick up children in Ocala when an off-duty Gainesville police officer crashed into its rear Friday morning, October 16, 2026. The bus had its flashing lights on and stop arm extended, WESH 2 reported, citing Marion County Public Schools.
The officer suffered serious injuries, and rescue crews had to free him from the patrol vehicle. WESH reported that he was expected to recover.
One mother told the station that debris from the crash struck her daughter, a third grader. She said the child remained scared after the collision.
The mother faces a workday that starts at 5 a.m. Getting her daughter to school herself could make her late and put her job at risk, she said.
Morning Pickup
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Marion County Fire Rescue received the crash call just before 7 a.m. on Southwest 49th Avenue, the station reported. Students, a driver, and an aide were aboard the bus, and a few people on board suffered minor injuries.
The officer did not see the stopped bus before hitting it, WESH reported, citing the Florida Highway Patrol. Troopers were examining how the crash happened.
The mother asked the station not to show her face. “When I came home, I saw the whole wreck. It was horrifying,” she said. “I just couldn’t believe it.”
“What was he doing?” the mother asked. She questioned whether the officer had just finished work or had been tired behind the wheel.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration advises drivers to slow down and prepare to stop when a school bus displays flashing yellow lights. Red lights and an extended stop arm mean children are boarding or leaving. Drivers should remain stopped until the red lights stop flashing, the arm retracts, and the bus starts moving.
After the Ride
“She’s not riding the bus anymore,” the mother told WESH. “No, I cannot allow that.”
She called for answers and accountability for what happened at the stop. “We have to do better,” she said, pointing to children boarding school transportation in the dark.
Gainesville police explained to WESH that the officer had a take-home vehicle because of where he lives.