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Police: School bus driver runs red light, crashes in Casselberry

CASSELBERRY, Fla. — Seminole County rescue workers faced a potentially deadly task of evacuating a school bus that was pinned against a shattered and dangling power pole on Tuesday.

The Florida Highway Patrol said 66-year-old bus driver Jack Timmel ran a red light Tuesday morning and hit a car that was attempting to make a left turn along Red Bug Lake Road.

The bus then crashed into the power pole and concrete wall, authorities said.

"A bus that was traveling eastbound ran a red light. A vehicle that was coming out of the school collided with that bus, and the bus then veered off the road and struck a pole," said Kim Montes of the Florida Highway Patrol.

Troopers said six children were taken off the bus. None were injured.

"The thought that there were kids on that bus is very scary. I have a child as well," said witness Joey Manning.

FHP said the power pole was on top of the bus and caused a brief power outage in the area.

"Obviously, up against a power pole, there could be a chance for more injury after the collision. Visually this looks bad, luckily it's not," Montes said.

Timmel was cited for running a red light, troopers said.

Troopers said Timmel ran the same red light in January and caused a crash, while carrying students on the bus.

School district officials said Timmel was disciplined and retrained after the first accident.

School district officials now said they’ll wait until troopers complete their crash investigation before determining whether Timmel will keep his job.