2-year-old critical after SR 70 crash in Lakewood Ranch

A 2-year-old Tampa boy was airlifted to a local hospital following a chain-reaction crash Saturday at 8:18 p.m. on State Road 70 in Lakewood Ranch.

According to a Florida Highway Patrol report, the boy was riding in a Ford Expedition SUV driven by a 32-year-old Tampa woman who drove into the back of a stopped Fort Pierce Central High School bus that was sitting in a line of three buses in an eastbound lane on S.R. 70 at its intersection with Palmbrush Trail. The force of the crash caused the bus to crash into the bus in front of it, and then caused the second bus to crash into the back of the third.

The crash caused the Ford to become engulfed in flames. The Tampa woman suffered minor injuries.

Six Fort Pierce Central High School students suffered minor injuries and were transported to local hospitals.

The three St. Pierce Central High School buses had 90 students and six adult passengers on board. 

The students were attending a band competition at Lakewood Ranch High School. 

The crash remains under investigation.