Legal news for Florida personal injury attorneys. Head-on collision sends 5 people to the hospital.

Florida personal injury attorneys alert- A head on collision involving a Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority bus and a car left 5 people injured.

Tampa, FL—Five people were injured when a car slammed head-on into a Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority (PSTA) bus. The two-vehicle collision happened Tuesday evening, August 25, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. on 15th Avenue S near 25th Street, as reported by the St. Petersburg Times.

According to St. Petersburg police, a Buick driven by, Shanikwa Lynette Thomas, 24, was traveling west on 15th Avenue S, when she attempted to pass three slow moving cars. As Thomas attempted to pass the cars, she swerved into the path of an eastbound PSTA bus and struck the bus directly head-on. The impact of the crash was so severe it pushed the Buick 80 feet backwards before coming to a stop. Thomas’ two children were also inside the vehicle at the time of the wreck. Both Caliaha Thomas, 6, and Leandre Grant, 4, sustained serious injuries in the crash, and were transported by area emergency medical services (EMS) professionals to Bayfront Medical Center for treatment. Rescue teams had to remove the driver’s side door of the Buick to release Thomas and her pinned leg. Thomas and her two young children were not wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash. The driver of the PSTA bus, Albert M. Ortiz, 27, of St. Petersburg, and a passenger, Donald Seay, 56, of St. Petersburg, also sustained injuries. EMS crews transported the bus driver and passenger to St. Anthony’s Hospital for treatment. Investigators are reportedly conducting a full investigation into the crash.

Legal News Reporter: Nicole Howley-Legal news for Florida personal injury lawyers.