Video shows moments before bus crash

Manatee County School District officials released a video Jan. 6 from inside the bus that crashed at 66th Street East and State Road 64 on Jan. 5.

The video shows students began shouting to the bus driver moments before the bus collided into the back of a semi-truck. The bus driver gave no indication he saw the pending crash.

Schools Superintendent Tim McGonegal said the driver, Charles Robert Orr, was a substitute bus driver with five years of prior bus driving experience.

"Florida Highway Patrol cited the bus driver for careless driving," McGonegal said. "As a result of the accident, effective immediately, he will no longer be driving school buses for the Manatee School District."
McGonegal said the school district will be handling medical costs for students injured in the crash, and is asking parents of those students to contact Cheryl Burt at the School District Risk Management Department regarding medical expenses. Burt can be reached at 708-8770 ex. 2058 or ext. 2052.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].