Deputies: 2 killed, 3 injured when school bus, car collide in Polk County

[Image courtesy Bay News 9]

Updated 2:40 p.m.

BARTOW -- Two people inside a car that "veered into the path" of a Polk County school bus were killed this morning after a collision at Alturas Loop Road near Hurley Drive, authorities said.

Polk County sheriff's spokeswoman Carrie Rodgers said in a statement the bus, carrying 11 Roosevelt Academy students, was turning onto Alturas Loop Road from Hurley Drive just before 7:30 a.m. when a silver Buick Century steered into the path of the school bus.

The Buick was carrying five people, Rodgers said. An adult male and female were pronounced dead at the scene.

Maria Ramos-Lopez, 48, was a passenger in the right rear seat. Marcos Adrian-Diaz, 21, was a passenger in the right front seat.

Two passengers were treated for injuries at the Bartow Regional Medical Center and released.  Felipe Chavez, 21, of 107 Ninth St. W in Wahneta, was the driver. Esperanda Gabriel, 42, also of Wahneta, sat behind Chavez.

Maria Chavez-Martinez, Felipe's sister who was the center rear passenger, is in critical condition at Lakeland Regional Medical Center.

None of the 13 people on the bus, including the driver and an attendant, were injured in the collision, authorities said. The bus had the right of way, Rodgers said.

Rodgers said all of the students have since been put on another bus and taken to school.

- Casey Cora, Times staff writer