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2010-02-03 04:28:43 - Vehicle Accident - USA EDIS CODE: VI-20100203-24772-USA
Date & Time: 2010-02-03 04:28:43 [UTC]
Area: USA, State of Florida, Route 21, Number of Injured person(s): 25
Damage level: Moderate (Level 2)
Not confirmed information! Description: About 25 Florida Army National Guard soldiers were injured this afternoon when their bus overturned on Florida 21 in Clay County en route back to Camp Blanding, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. None of the injuries are life-threatening, said Lt. Bill Leeper of the Florida Highway Patrol. One victim who suffered severe injuries was airlifted to Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville, while the others were taken to hospitals in Gainesville, Starke and Orange Park. Leeper and Guard officials said late Tuesday afternoon that 24 or 25 of the 30 bus riders were injured in the accident near Goldhead State Park. Earlier reports indicated fewer injuries, but several soldiers returning to the base complained of wounds and were added to the list. At least some of the victims suffered broken bones, cuts and bruises. Some fell from one side of the bus onto their comrades. The two-lane road was reopened shortly after 6 p.m., almost four hours after the accident. The accident occurred about 2:50 p.m. when one of four bus drivers in a convoy failed to see another bus slowing, veered off the road, overcorrected and flipped the vehicle on its side. Driver Jason Robert Turner, 23, of Burke, Va., was wearing a seat belt and not hurt, according to the Florida Highway Patrol report. Leeper said no charges have been filed. No other identities were released and authorities did not say how many of the victims were men or women. The investigation is continuing. The soldiers are from the 690th Military Police Company based in Crystal River. The soldiers are training for a deployment to Afghanistan and had recently completed their combat life-saver training. Sgt. Major Sally Bailey, chief of police at the base, was one of the first officials on the scene. She said she saw distraught wounded soldiers on the side of the road being treated by other soldiers and rescue crews. "There was amazement and dazement," Bailey said. The bus convoy was headed north, returning to the base from a training session. Police and military officials said traffic in front of the buses began to slow, including military Humvees that were stopping to open the gates into the base. That's when the accident occurred. Those aboard the bus, which flipped onto its passenger side, were able to get out with the help of fellow soldiers from the other buses. The front and back windows of the bus were apparently kicked out after the accident. The uninjured soldiers helped triage those who were hurt until ambulances arrived from Clay and Bradford counties and the military base. Baily described the scene as "surreal." "I came from the theater in Iraq. This is exactly our battle drills," she said. "We respond to accidents, we respond to our buddies going down. It was second nature. Everybody reacted, we were all timely, we were all shouting each other, good communication."
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