School bus lights were flashing when teen was struck by car in Kissimmee

KISSIMMEE, Fla. — A Kissimmee teenager is fighting to survive after being struck by a car as he was trying to board a school bus Monday morning.

Florida Highway Patrol said James Martin, 86, of Orlando, passed the school bus, which was stopped and had its lights flashing and its stop sign out.

Martin struck Gateway High School student Jordan Velez, 16, who remains in critical condition at Arnold Palmer Hospital.

Troopers said Martin told them he didn't see the bus' sign or lights.

"The car hit him in the hip area, and he just flipped and landed on his stomach," said student Dustin Brion.

Brion said he was a couple feet away from Velez as they walked to their bus shortly after 6 a.m.

"I just heard a boom," said Velez's friend, Eduardo Rivera. "I didn't know how many people got hit, I just saw a body fly 10 feet in the air."

"The impact was pretty severe. The young man was thrown 60 feet, and for his friends and classmates to have to see this was probably horrific," said Kim Montes of the Florida Highway Patrol.

Investigators said Martin was not speeding and will undergo a physical to see if any health issues contributed to the crash.

WFTV learned Martin's driving record is clean, and his license was renewed in June. Troopers said he was wearing the glasses he's required to use for driving.

FHP said charges are pending.

Gateway High School officials said that counselors will be available to speak to Velez's friends and any students who witnessed the incident.

WFTV