MARION COUNTY, Fla. – Fifteen people were injured Tuesday morning in a crash involving an ambulance, a pickup truck and a small bus carrying special needs students, according to Marion County Fire Rescue.
MCFR said they were dispatched to a crash involving the three vehicles around 9 a.m. at the intersection of SW 90th Street and SW 80th Avenue, an area near a lot of neighborhoods and also next to Marion County Fire Rescue Station 21.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the ambulance was responding to a call as the driver was working his way across the intersection when it was struck on the right side by the Bridge to Hope adult community bus, and then the pickup truck.
[EXCLUSIVE: Become a News 6 Insider (it’s FREE) | PINIT! Share your photos]
Video showed the emergency lights and sirens were on when the crash happened. Firefighters from the nearby station were able to get to the crash a minute later to help.
Officials said that a total of 15 patients were transported to local hospitals, including two Marion County firefighters, 11 special needs students on the bus, the bus driver and the driver of the pickup truck.
Eight of the passengers were transported as a precaution while three had minor injuries, according to the release.
The two firefighters were transported with minor injuries, officials said.
The crash is under investigation by Florida Highway Patrol.
Marion County Fire Rescue is urging drivers to yield to emergency vehicles as their lights and sirens are on.
Get today’s headlines in minutes with Your Florida Daily: