JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – The semi-truck driver who rear-ended a school bus carrying kindergarteners on a field trip said the crash was caused by a malfunctioning brake, according to the incident report obtained by News4JAX.
On Thursday morning, about 30 kindergarteners from San Pablo Elementary School were on board the Duval County School Bus headed to the Jacksonville Zoo when the semi crashed into the bus as it crossed the train tracks on Zoo Parkway.
Four children were injured and taken to the hospital and the crash report notes a fifth person was also transported for their injuries. The injuries range from two broken legs to cuts to the head and chest pain. No updates have been released regarding the students’ current conditions.
According to the report, the semi truck driver told police that he saw the bus stopped at the railroad tracks, tried to step on the brakes, but his “brakes were not working,” causing the semi to swerve to the inside in an unsuccessful attempt to avoid hitting the bus.
The driver was cited for careless driving but officers note he was not distracted at the time of the crash.
Dalya Farah, an attorney with Farah and Farah who is representing the families of three of the injured students, said the next step is a deeper investigation into the truck itself.
“We will most likely inspect the truck. There’s a lot of information on semi-trucks that we can’t obtain otherwise,” Farah said.
Farah said inspection records and maintenance history will be critical in determining what caused the crash.
“When it comes to a semi case, there could be a lot of factors that go into fault,” she said. “We’re looking into whether there was a brake failure, whether the truck was properly maintained, or if distracted driving played a role.”
The News4JAX I-TEAM also uncovered a history of crashes tied to the trucking company.
Using the USDOT number on the truck, records show five other crashes linked to the same company over the past two years. It is unclear who was at fault in those incidents or whether the same driver was involved.
Records also show 74 inspections were conducted during that time frame, though that number may reflect inspections across the company’s entire fleet.
Farah said those inspection records could provide key insight into whether the crash could have been prevented.
“It’s definitely terrifying,” Farah said. “I can’t imagine a kindergartener going through that trauma, especially on a trip to the zoo.”
News4JAX reached out to the trucking company, Universal Logistics Holdings, about the reported brake failure. A manager declined to answer questions.
The investigation is focused on determining the cause of the crash, including whether the truck driver was distracted or if there were mechanical failures.
It’s unclear how this information would add to the lawsuit.