Students on crashed bus say driver wasn't paying attention

BRADENTON, Fla. - Students call their driver 'Mr. Charles,' and state troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol say he was distracted while driving down SR 64 East in Bradenton.

The children say the driver was facing the children, not the road, and chastising at least one student, threatening to write him up.  He had the referral, and was looking back," said student Elijah Moore.

"He turned his head around to give someone a referral," said student Mario Perez.

He was so distracted, they say, that students braced for the tractor trailer in front of them before the bus driver did.

"I instantly looked, and I saw the semi-truck," said student Darnie Pascal.

But the tractor-trailer didn't stop their school bus.

School bus #560 kept rolling with 40 students from Braden River Middle School inside.

The driver had gotten trapped.  "The whole front end was smashed in, so the wheel was smashed into his legs," said Moore.

Eleven-year-old Elijah Moore and 12-year-old Torrel Roden say kids were terrified.

So were eyewitnesses who jumped out of their cars and ran after the runaway bus.

Kids say one passerby caught up with them on foot and jumped on.  "He tried helping us and he got cut a little," said Perez.  

Troopers say it is true, that a good Samaritan tried to put the brakes on.  It came to a stop 500 yards from the original accident scene.

It's hard to believe, but the school district says they have the good Samaritan on surveillance tape.

The school district says 21 children went to the hospital with minor injuries.

Mario Perez had a bloody nose and a fat lip.

He says he'll ride the bus again, but not with Mr. Charles.