Yesterday, a semi-truck rear-ended a school bus that was stopped to let off students. The school bus was pushed forward 200 - 300 feet before bursting into flames. Passers-by risked themselves to enter the bus and rescue 20 of the 21 students on the bus. The one left was “lodged” and couldn’t be rescued.

The crash occured in Citra, Florida, a small town only a few towns away from where I grew up. The bus held students from North Marion Middle School and North Marion High School, the middle school I went to and the first high school I went to.

My cousin Noelle knew a few of the students on the bus and her best friend Ama knew the girl that died: 13-year old Frances Margay Schee.

Sources & Further Reading:
Deadly School Bus Accident in Ocala
Truck Driver Was On His Cell
Marion County Officials Say Bystanders Saved Students From Burning Bus
She Had A Wonderful Smile
Girl Killed, 8 Hurt As Semi Hits Bus
4 Rescuers Tell Story of School Bus Crash
Mother Braves Flames to Pull Her Kids From Burning Bus