Woman Arrested For DUI After Crashing into an Orlando Bus
Six people ended up in the hospital and a woman was booked into the Orange County Jail on DUI charges after a crash involving her vehicle and a Lynx bus filled with passengers. Orlando police say the woman, a 22-year-old from Daytona Beach, was driving without her headlights on and failed to stop at an intersection near downtown Orlando. She then struck a Lynx Bus, causing that vehicle to hit an overpass.
This crash is a stark reminder of the risks involved with getting behind the wheel after consuming alcohol, since accidents can involve not just two vehicles, but one carrying multiple people, with the risk for multiple injuries.
If you’re facing a DUI charge that resulted in an accident with multiple injuries, this is going to be an emotionally overwhelming and stressful time, when you’re constantly worrying about how the arrest will affect your job, family, and your future. If you’re under considerable stress from a recent DUI arrest in Orlando, it’s important to seek out the guidance of an experienced DUI lawyer who can navigate you through the legal system.
What Caused the Lynx Bus Accident in Orlando?
The accident happened on Jan. 31, and the police say it was so severe that the bus driver was trapped inside the vehicle for 90 minutes, and his lower body got crushed.
Police were called to the scene just before 2 a.m. It started, police noted in their report, when the driver, in a Toyota Camry, failed to stop at the intersection of Carter Street and Westmoreland Drive. A Lynx bus driving the opposite way swerved to avoid colliding with her car but instead slammed into part of the overpass for State Road 408.
The bus driver was trapped and his lower body got crushed by the bus. The driver was transported to a hospital in critical condition by the Orlando Fire Department. Five passengers on the bus were also taken to the hospital with what police said were serious but non-life threatening injuries.
Witnesses to the accident told police that the suspect was driving without headlights, and an officer reported that smelled a strong odor of alcohol from her. The officer also reported that she had the letter “C” stamped on her hand, consistent with entry stamps used at Cowboys Orlando, a bar about a mile from the accident scene.
Driver in Lynx Accident Charged with Felony DUI
Police also reported that the driver refused all Standardized Field Sobriety Tests at the accident scene and asked for a lawyer. She was arrested and charged with DUI with serious bodily injury, a felony.
At the Orange County Jail, her bond was set at $5,000. At the Orange County DUI Testing Center, she agreed to provide two breath samples and registered 0.17, just over twice the legal limit of 0.08.
She was later identified as the daughter of a Daytona Beach City Commissioner, who later told the Daytona Beach News-Journal that “(W)e are not really sure what happened right now and we are sorting things out. We are just hopeful that everybody that was on the bus makes a full recovery. I wasn’t there and I don’t have any knowledge of what happened. It’s my daughter and I’m there for her.”
How Common are Accidents Between Cars and Buses?
Accidents between cars and buses are unfortunately all too common in major urban areas like Orlando. Last November, six children were injured after a crash between the school bus they were riding in and a second car. Police say an Orlando woman was driving a Honda with her 1-year-old right behind the school bus when she tried to pass the bus in the left lane as it slowed down to make a right turn. Instead, the Honda struck the bus, which had 21 students on it. Six of the children were reported to have minor injuries and taken to the nearest hospital.
In Central Florida, thousands of people rely on the LYNX bus system to transport them daily, while thousands of children attend classes after riding a school bus to their neighborhood school. If you or anyone you know has been injured in a bus accident, your injuries could be very serious and even prevent you from working and supporting your family.
What’s needed is the experience of an Orlando attorney who can help you get the compensation needed for your medical expenses, lost income, and pain and suffering.
Hire Experienced Orlando DUI Lawyers
The lawyers with The Umansky Law Firm have dedicated a significant part of their careers of more than 100 years combined to tackling DUI and other alcohol charges in Orlando and throughout Central Florida. Our attorneys are former prosecutors with extensive experience defending DUI. Recognized as one of Florida Trend’s Legal Elite in 2018, you can rely on us to fight for the second chance you deserve. Call our office or complete our contact form for a free case review 24/7.
