School bus crash sends kids to hospital

RUSKIN - A school bus and a Terminix truck crashed into each other in Ruskin this morning, leaving quite a mess at the intersection of 21st Ave. SE and 6th St. SE in Ruskin.

According to the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the school bus and the truck were traveling in opposite directions on 21st Ave. SE when they crashed. Deputies say the truck driver was signaling to turn left but instead continued to drive straight, while the school bus, also signaling to turn left on to 6th St. SE, turned directly into the path of the truck driver.

Deputies say there were 39 children on board the bus headed to Beth Shields Middle School at the time of the accident. Ten were transported to local hospitals with injuries that appeared to be only minor. The bus driver, Olga Guerrero, was also transported to Brandon Hospital after complaining of injury. The driver of the truck, Douglas Hayes, was not hurt.

Deputies say Guerrero was cited for a right-of-way violation. The bus was heavily damaged and was taken to the Hillsborough County Transportation Department to see if it could be repaired.