14 Children, 4 Adults Injured In Davie School Bus Crash

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DAVIE (CBSMiami) - Several children were hurt in a crash involving a school bus Friday morning on Interstate 595 in Davie.

The accident happened in the eastbound lanes of the highway just west of University Drive.

Davie Fire Rescue said 18 people, 14 children, and four adults, were treated transported to area hospitals with minor injuries.

The West Pines community church group was on a mission to meet with foster children and also do a free car wash when suddenly the crash changed everything.

Two cars skid and turned completely around before impacting the school bus.

"I saw two cars trying to cut in front of us, our bus and one car swerving to the left trying to avoid it," said Nicole Salomon, bus passenger.

The seconds before the impact seemed like an eternity for those on the bus.

"What it looked like was the front of the car coming towards the front of the bus and it could have been a head-on," said Brenda Rosario, a passenger on the bus.

"We were all freaking out at the moment and we are all crying. We couldn't believe this was real," Nicole said.

Nicole was one of the 14 children who were transported to Broward Health North Medical center and Plantation General Hospital, along with three adults on the bus and a driver in one of the cars.

"We were all crushed forward by the impact," Nicole said.

"I was slumped forward and I was falling asleep," said Mia Trotta, who was on the bus.

The group was on an excursion to do a free car wash for the public and also meet with foster children.

"All of a sudden, I heard screaming and I looked forward and I saw car smoke and all of us we panicked," Mia said.

Amid hugs, some parents were reunited at the Signature Grand banquet hall, at 6900 State Road 84, with their children, where they later boarded their slightly damaged bus once again.

Parents, families, and friends of the crash victims were grateful there were no serious injuries.

"It was a pretty big scare for her as well as me," said Kathy Salomon, Nicole's mom. "It was like Lord Jesus, thank God my daughter is OK."

"I have to thank God for keeping us alive," Mia said.

"Amazing. It was like God knew we were on a mission for this trip," Brenda said.

Florida Highway Patrol investigators are looking at available surveillance tape from nearby businesses and speaking to witnesses.

So far, they are not saying how the crash happened, just that this could have been much worse than it was.