1 dead, 2 injured during chain reaction crash involving school bus in Hialeah Gardens

Source: WPLG

HIALEAH GARDENS, Fla. – A school bus with Hialeah Gardens Middle School students onboard was involved in a fatal crash involving four other vehicles and a pedestrian on Tuesday afternoon.

Hialeah Gardens Police Department detectives were investigating the death of the pedestrian. According to Miami-Dade Fire Rescue, a man and a child were also injured.

It all started when a man who was driving a Dodge pickup truck southbound on the Palmetto Expressway exited at 103rd Street. He ran over a pedestrian and crashed into an Audi, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

He was later identified as 38-year-old Lavarius C. Bethel.

The drivers of a Ford sedan, a white Honda sedan and the Miami-Dade County Public Schools bus got caught in the chain-reaction crash at Northwest 103rd Street and Northwest 77th Avenue, according to troopers.

A girl who was on the school bus said a window shattered and some of the glass fell on her lap. She wasn’t injured and said neither were the other frightened students who were with her.

Bethel was placed in handcuffs after the incident and officers temporarily closed the intersection.

FHP Lt. Alex Camacho confirmed Wednesday that a blood sample was taken to determine whether Bethel was impaired while driving. Authorities are still waiting on the toxicology report.

How We Can Help

If you, a friend or a family member find themselves in a situation such as this, please call the Law Office of Scott A. Ferris, P.A. at 305 670-3330 right away. Scott A. Ferris, Esq. is a licensed attorney who has been practicing law for 34 years. He is available whenever you need him to defend your rights. Please learn about our firm at www.FerrisLawFirm.com.

Republished by the Law Office of Scott A. Ferris, P.A.