Seven killed in US crash involving school bus
(AP)
Updated: 2006-01-26 09:04

Seven children were killed Wednesday and at least three others seriously injured in a fiery crash involving a school bus, a car and a tractor-trailer in rural northern Florida of the United States, police said.

The truck hit the car from behind and pushed it into the bus, causing the car to burst into flames, said Lt. Mike Burroughs of the Florida Highway Patrol.

All seven of the people riding in the car were killed. Their ages ranged from 15 years to 21 months and all were related, police said.

It was unclear why the children were unaccompanied.

Nine students were on the bus, but the extent of their injuries was also unclear. State police said three were seriously hurt and six others suffered minor injuries. Hospital officials said two were in critical condition and three were in serious condition.

The drivers of the bus and the truck were also taken to a hospital. The truck driver suffered minor injuries, and authorities planned to interview him. The bus driver's condition was not immediately known.

The bus was operated by the Union County school district, which has three schools from pre-kindergarten to 12th grade.

The accident occurred near Lake Butler, about 60 miles (96 kilometers) southwest of Jacksonville.

The National Transportation Safety Board said it was sending a team of investigators.

Fatal accidents involving school buses and vans are relatively rare. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reports that 71 passengers and 42 drivers been killed since 1994 in school vehicles _ an average of about 10 people per year.