POLK COUNTY, Fla. — The Winterhaven community is remembering the tenth grader killed in a deadly Polk County school bus crash on Monday as “loving and loyal.”
Investigators identified Adinaluz Prieto Oyola, 16, as the victim aboard the bus.
Channel 9 previously reported that the crash sent dozens of people to hospitals. The bus carried 37 students, its driver, and the driver’s 9-year-old daughter.
Investigators said the bus was heading to Winterhaven High School when a Chevy Malibu hit the back corner of the bus and caused a tragic chain of events at Lucerne Park Road about a mile and a half west of U-S 27.
According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the bus slammed into a jeep driven by Deshawn Smith, 26.
According to investigators, he was driving the speed limit and was on the way to work when the bus slammed head-on into his car.
“It happened in the blink of an eye. It was absolutely impossible for that driver to get any kind of control over that bus,” said Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd.
Five other people were transported to the hospital, but investigators said all are expected to make a full recovery.
On Tuesday, three crisis counselors were on campus at Winter Haven High School to support grieving students and faculty.
Valeria Garcia went to Lake Alfred Polytech Academy with Adinaluz for middle school. She remembers her friend as loyal and loving.
“She didn’t deserve this. She should have lived a long life,” said Garcia.
Above all else Garcia remembers Adinaluz’ kind spirit.
A GoFundMe campaign describes Adinaluz as “loving, joyful, and always willing to help others.”
According to the district, she was supposed to head to her first day of cheer practice before Monday’s fatal crash.
“Her energy and like everything about her. She would have been a great cheerleader,” said Garcia.
The superintendent also described Adinaluz as a model student who leaves behind an older brother and grieving parents.
The district said they returned Adinaluz’ belongings to her family Monday evening.
“That was the most difficult conversation I’ve ever had to have with the family. The questions of why? Why my baby?,” said Frederick Heid, Superintendent of Polk County Public Schools.
The Polk County Sheriff’s Office says right now no one is facing criminal charges in the investigation.
Sheriff Grady Judd said there is no indication that the Chevy Malibu driver was on her phone or otherwise distracted and said she has fully cooperated.
In the meantime, the Sheriff’s Office said they are accepting donations for the victims of this crash via Polk Sheriff’s Charities Inc.
He said 100 percent of those donations will go to the victims and asked the community to note who the donation is for.
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