A 16-year-old Winter Haven High School student and a 26-year-old Haines City man were killed Monday morning in a violent multi-vehicle crash involving a school bus on Lucerne Park Road in Polk County.
The crash occurred at approximately 6:13 a.m. on Monday, October 5, 2026.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, school bus No. 1819 was traveling eastbound on Lucerne Park Road with 37 Winter Haven High School students, the bus driver and the driver’s 9-year-old daughter on board.
Investigators said a white Chevrolet Malibu, driven westbound by 23-year-old Maria Mondragon Jimenez, crossed the double-yellow center line for reasons still under investigation and struck the school bus.
During a news conference Tuesday, Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd said the Malibu struck the rear tandem-wheel area of the bus, tearing off a tire and causing the bus to rapidly veer across the roadway.
Judd described the impact as similar to a PIT maneuver, saying the force of the collision immediately redirected the bus into the westbound lanes.
The bus then collided head-on with a silver Jeep driven by 26-year-old Deshawn Smith of Haines City before flipping into a roadside ditch.
The Jeep caught fire, and Smith was pronounced dead at the scene.
Judd said Smith was driving under the speed limit and was simply on his way to work when the school bus suddenly entered his lane.
“There was absolutely nothing he could do to avoid it,” Judd said.
A 16-year-old Winter Haven High School student, identified as Adinaluz Prieto Oyola, was also killed at the scene.
Bus Driver Praised for Helping Students
The school bus was driven by 34-year-old Jessica Lynn Dye.
Video from inside the bus showed Dye became pinned in the driver’s area following the head-on collision.
Despite her injuries, Judd said Dye freed herself and immediately began helping students inside the bus.
Dye’s 9-year-old daughter was also on board when the crash occurred.
Judd praised Dye for her actions, saying she struggled to get herself out of the damaged driver’s area and then immediately turned her attention to the students.
Investigators determined Dye was traveling under the speed limit, remained in her lane before the initial impact and was not at fault in the crash.
Judd also disclosed that Dye had previously been involved in a minor school bus crash in which she rear-ended another vehicle and received a traffic citation. He stressed that the previous incident was unrelated to Monday’s crash.
“One event has absolutely nothing to do with the other,” Judd said.
Malibu Driver Cooperating With Investigation
Jimenez, the driver of the Malibu, is a nursing student from Haines City who was traveling to Lakeland Regional Health for work when the crash occurred, Judd said.
Jimenez cooperated with investigators, provided her cellphone, participated in an interview and submitted to a voluntary blood draw.
She told investigators she does not remember what caused her vehicle to cross the center line.
Judd said investigators believe the stress and trauma of the crash may have affected her memory of the event.
Jimenez was treated at a hospital and released.
Judd emphasized that investigators believe she did not intentionally cause the crash.
“She didn’t mean to create that crash that morning,” Judd said, while noting that the investigation into why the Malibu crossed the center line remains ongoing.
39 People Were Aboard Bus
There were 39 people aboard the school bus: 37 Winter Haven High School students, Dye and her 9-year-old daughter.
According to the Sheriff’s Office, 22 students were transported to a hospital aboard another school bus with a Polk County Fire Rescue paramedic accompanying them.
Seven students were transported by ambulance.
Three students were airlifted by helicopter, and four students were transported to hospitals by family members.
Dye and her daughter were also transported by ambulance.
Patients were taken to AdventHealth Heart of Florida, Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center, Winter Haven Hospital and Arnold Palmer Children’s Hospital.
Most of those injured were treated and released Monday.
During Tuesday’s news conference, Judd said three of the 35 people transported from the bus remained hospitalized. All three were expected to make a full recovery.
Fourth Vehicle Also Involved
A Kia Forte was also involved in the crash.
Investigators said the Kia struck the rear of the Malibu after the initial collision.
The Kia driver suffered minor injuries and was transported to a hospital.
PCSO initially reported that one adult from another involved vehicle was transported by Polk County Fire Rescue ambulance, while two other people from vehicles involved in the crash self-transported to hospitals.
Judd said crash reconstruction showed the Malibu, school bus and Jeep were all traveling below the posted speed limit before the collision.
The crash prompted a large emergency response involving the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, Winter Haven Fire Department, Winter Haven Police Department, Haines City Police Department, Polk County Fire Rescue and Polk County Public Schools.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit continues to investigate what caused the Malibu to cross the center line.
