An off-duty Gainesville Police Department officer sustained serious injuries after rear-ending a Marion County school bus stopped to pick up students, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The crash occurred just before 7 a.m. Friday.

According to FHP, the officer, operating his assigned marked GPD Ford Explorer, was traveling southbound on SW 49 Avenue Road when he failed to observe the stopped bus at the intersection of SW 82 Place Road and collided with its rear.

The bus, which serves Hammett Bowen Jr. Elementary School in Ocala, was stopped in the outside lane with its flashing lights activated and stop signs extended. Thirteen students were on board at the time, along with the bus driver, 37, and a bus aide, 54, FHP said.

The officer was transported to the hospital. One 9-year-old student, the bus driver, and the bus aide were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

A spokesperson from Marion County Public Schools said school counselors were made available at Hammett Bowen Jr. Elementary to help students process the incident.

NEWS 6 TALKS TO PARENT

News 6 spoke to a parent who said debris struck her daughter in the face as the girl was getting on the bus.

“I just knew something was going to happen in that intersection,” the parent said. “I’m just thankful that the kids were safe. Howe could you miss a bus with the lights on, flashing?”

The parent said she previously contacted the district’s transportation office to ask about moving the bus stop, but she was told the change could not be accommodated.

Neighbors also described the intersection as dangerous and said drivers speed through there.

Meanwhile, the mother who spoke with News 6 now wants to see changes and may even end up homeschooling her daughter because she’s terrified to get on a school bus again.

“I can’t lose mine from someone that doesn’t care,” she explained. “No, I can’t do that.”

The school district told News 6 it is waiting for the FHP investigation to finish before deciding whether to make changes to the bus stop.

This is a developing story. Check back for updates.