A school bus crash with reported injuries shut down all westbound lanes of Zoo Parkway just east of the Jacksonville Zoo on Thursday morning, choking traffic across North Jacksonville as first responders swarmed the scene.
Emergency crews and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office personnel were working along the busy stretch of road while tow and cleanup crews prepared to remove wreckage and debris.
Video Shows Rear of Bus Crumpled Near Train Tracks
Video and photos shared with News4JAX show the rear of a school bus badly crumpled after what appears to be a rear-end hit by a semi as the bus was crossing train tracks near Imeson Park Boulevard.
The footage, provided by a bystander, shows heavy damage to the back of the bus and scattered debris lining the roadway. According to News4JAX, an eyewitness posted the images on social media and gave the outlet permission to share them publicly.
JSO: Crash Reported Shortly After 11 a.m., Lanes Closed Indefinitely
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said the crash was reported shortly after 11 a.m. and that all westbound lanes of Zoo Parkway would remain closed for an undetermined amount of time while crews worked to clear the scene, according to First Coast News.
Authorities confirmed that there were injuries connected to the crash, but at the time of the report they had not released how many people were hurt or described the nature of their conditions.
Duval County Public Schools Investigating
Duval County Public Schools told News4JAX it was looking into the incident and would notify families if students were involved.
District officials had not immediately said whether any students were on the bus when the collision happened.
Traffic Impacts And What Drivers Should Expect
The closure triggered significant backups on surrounding roads as crews secured the area and worked around the damaged vehicles. Drivers were urged to avoid Zoo Parkway and use alternate routes until lanes reopen, First Coast News reported.
Authorities were expected to release additional information, including any official statements on the cause of the crash and the extent of the injuries, as the investigation continued.
