A 16-year-old Strawberry Crest High School student has been charged with careless driving after he rear-ended a school bus full of students heading to Armwood High School this morning.
According to Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office reports, at about 6:30 a.m. May 1, Logan Slanders was driving a Ford F150 southbound on State Road 579 at about 35 to 40 mph, when he dropped and spilled a cup of coffee. Slanders leaned over to pick up the coffee cup and was momentarily distracted while driving.
When Slanders looked up, it was too late to avoid hitting the back of a Hillsborough County school bus, which was carrying 20 students. Darlene Bennett was driving the school bus southbound on State Road 579, when she stopped monetarily for traffic ahead. Southbound traffic was stopped for a northbound school bus actively loading students at State Road 579 and Bay Hills Circle.
As a result of the crash, 14 Armwood High School students on the bus and Bennett complained of minor injuries. They were treated at and released from a local hospital.
Slanders received minor injuries and was taken to an walk-in medical facility by his mother.
Slanders also was charged with failure to wear a seat belt. He was released to his parents. Alcohol or drugs were not a factor in the incident.