15-year-old student hit, killed by school bus in Lakeland: Police

LAKELAND, Fla. - A 15-year-old Central Florida Aerospace Academy student was hit and killed Tuesday morning while he was riding his bicycle to school, according to officials.

The Lakeland Police Department said the crash involving a Schools of McKeel Academy school bus happened just before 7 a.m. in the 3900 block of West Pipkin Road near the intersection of Medulla Road. Officials say that evidence found at the scene suggests that the teen was trying to cross West Pipkin Road when he was hit by the bus.

Photo courtesy: Lakeland Police Department

The 15-year-old boy, later identified by family as Jaxon Crabtree, was unresponsive when authorities arrived at the scene. First repsonders with multiple agencies tried to save the student, and he was taken to Lakeland Regional Health, which is where he died.

15-year-old Jaxon Crabtree

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Lakeland Police Chief Sam Taylor spoke to the media Tuesday afternoon about the tragic incident. Taylor said it didn't appear as if the school bus driver, a 71-year-old female, was not speeding and added that she was ‘extremely upset’ by the incident.

Eight kids ranging from 8-11 years old were on the bus during the crash. None of those kids of the bus driver were injured in the crash. 

Tuesday night, the Lakeland community came together to mourn the loss of Crabtree. His mother and father were in attendance, a prayer was said and memories were shared about Jaxon’s life and character. 

"I’ve seen him grow so much as a person and a friend, so it's really hard saying goodbye," Carter Catalano said, a friend of Jaxon's. "Its horrible to see something happen like this. He bikes home every day, I see him. It’s so devastating. This community will be completely in shambles."

Catalano’s mother Amanda organized the vigil for the community after hearing the devastating news on Tuesday. She told FOX 13 she has always worried about the dangerous intersection where this tragedy happened. 

"Your heart sinks, you just can’t imagine because that could be my kid," Amanda Vath said. "It should be safe for him to go near his school. There’s no crosswalk, light or sidewalk – not even a sidewalk to school or near the school."

Vath said the neighborhood had previously approached city council about the dangerous intersection, asking for a crosswalk or light. 

"It’s a horrific accident that occurred this morning, 20 days before Christmas. It makes it even worse," Taylor said in a press conference hours after the incident. "Anytime a tragedy like this happens, we re-assess if we could improve the intersection or the lighting of the signage there so that will be done in the coming days."

According to Taylor, the road the 15-year-old was crossing was a multi-lane highway, and he was in the left turning lane trying to move into the inside lane when he was struck. There was not a crosswalk where he was crossing.

The Polk County Public Schools Superintendent said in a statement: 

"We are heartbroken by this morning’s news of a Central Florida Aerospace Academy student who lost his life in a traffic accident before school. This is a devastating tragedy for the student’s family, as well as CFAA and our community. We have been in contact with the student’s family and are making counselors available to the students and staff at school. We urge everyone in our community — all motorists and students — to take extra caution around schools and help save lives."