Driver rear-ends Manatee County school bus

A traffic accident today involving a Manatee County School District School bus resulted only minor injuries.
No children were on board at the time of the accident.

A Florida Highway Patrol report states a 1998 sedan being driven by 55-year-old Gary Clark, of Myakka, was heading westbound in the center lane of State Road 70, while a Manatee County school bus and another vehicle were stopped behind traffic in the right lane of State Road 70. The bus was ahead of the vehicle, a 2006 BMW being driven by Lisa Bonds, 40, of Bradenton.

The report states Clark had changed into the right lane to go around slower traffic. When he saw the bus and Bonds' vehicles were stopped, he applied the brakes, but was unable to stop, leaving 68 feet of skid marks before colliding with the rear of Bonds' vehicle. Bond's vehicle was pushed forward into the back of the bus, the report states.

Clark's vehicle and the bus, which was driven by 65-year-old James Askevich, sustained damages of $3,000 each. Damages to Bonds' vehicle are estimated at $6,000.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].