Car Slams Into Florida School Bus

Crash occurs during morning school bus pickup, no students on board

Published on Feb. 26, 2026

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A car slammed into the back of a Lee County school bus in Fort Myers, Florida, during the first pickup of the school day. Witnesses reported a loud boom and saw the car go under the bus, but fortunately no students were on board at the time. Both drivers sustained only minor injuries.

Why it matters

School bus safety is a major concern for parents and communities, and incidents like this highlight the importance of driver awareness and precautions around school buses, especially during pickup and drop-off times when children are present.

The details

Video captured the crash, which occurred on U.S. 41 in Fort Myers. Witnesses described hearing a loud boom and seeing the car go completely under the school bus. Fortunately, the bus was empty at the time, as it was just starting its morning pickup route. Both drivers were able to exit their vehicles with only minor injuries.

  • The incident occurred on the morning of February 19, 2026 during the first school bus pickup of the day.

The players

Lee County School District

The school district that operates the bus involved in the crash.

Dave Johns

A witness to the crash who was drinking coffee nearby when he heard the loud boom.

Tait Dunford

A woman walking by who saw the car under the school bus and provided ice to the driver.

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What they’re saying

“Just drinking my coffee, and I heard a loud boom. And it was very loud. We saw the children walking to the bus 15 minutes prior to this happening.”

— Dave Johns, Witness (abc7.com)

“You would've thought (the) driver's head cut off because his car literally went under the bus, so terrible situation.”

— Dave Johns, Witness (abc7.com)

“He had a tag on his pinky, and I gave him some ice. He was a little scattered, which I would figure after something like that.”

— Tait Dunford, Witness (abc7.com)

“I am super grateful that no kids were on the bus. I'm super grateful that he's OK.”

— Tait Dunford, Witness (abc7.com)

What’s next

The Lee County School District and local authorities will investigate the cause of the crash to determine if any safety improvements or policy changes are needed to prevent similar incidents in the future.

The takeaway

This incident serves as a sobering reminder of the importance of driver awareness and caution around school buses, especially during the busy morning pickup times when children are present. While no students were harmed, the crash could have had devastating consequences, underscoring the need for continued vigilance to ensure the safety of the community's schoolchildren.