
CLAY COUNTY, FL -- Two people are dead following a collision with a school bus full of elementary school students.
Troopers say 19-year-old Elisabeth Brantley, of Interlachen, and 48-year-old Paul Bruchesky, of Melrose, were killed in a fiery crash when their car slammed into a school bus.
According to Lt. Bill Leeper with the Florida Highway Patrol, the bus from Middleburg Elementary School was making its afternoon dropoff of students, and 22 were still onboard as the bus pulled up to the intersection of Santa Clara at Blanding Blvd.
Leeper says while the bus was stopped to make a left turn onto Santa Clara Avenue, a Pontiac Grand Am rear-ended the back of it and caught fire.
Troopers say Elisabeth Brantley was behind the wheel and Paul Bruchesky sat in the front passenger seat. Both died on impact.
Elisabeth Brantley's sister, 16-year-old Samantha Brantley, was in the back seat and made it out alive.
CLICK HERE TO READ ABOUT THE GOOD SAMARITAN WHO HELPED
The 16-year-old was taken to Shands Jacksonville with minor injuries. Troopers say all three of the people in the car were wearing seatbelts.
The Middleburg Elementary School principal called parents of the children who rode the bus to let them know of the accident.
Those parents rushed to the scene to check on their children.
"It was panic. [My son] sits in the back of the bus," said Tina Lalone.
Lalone's 12-year-old son was taken to the hospital as a precaution.
"He was complaining of a sore neck, so they're going to take him," Lalone said.
In addition to Lalone's son, troopers say two 11-year-olds and a 10-year-old were also taken to the hospital to be checked out.
Three were taken to Orange Park Medical Center after complaining of neck pain, and a fourth child was taken to Shands Jacksonville, but the FHP says none of the injuries appear serious.
Nine-year-old Dylan Roberts sat in one of the middle rows on the bus. His mother picked him up after the accident. She says Dylan is not hurt, but the child vividly recalls the crash.
"At first the [bus driver] said to stay in our seats, but then she saw flames. I looked behind us and you could see smoke and flames and we ran out the door," Dylan recalls.
Nicole Casto heard her friend's children were also on the bus. When she arrived, Casto says she could tell the situation was serious.
"It's horrible. The whole front end of the car was smashed in. The whole windshield," Casto said.
Lt. Leeper says it's early in the investigation and they are not sure why the Pontiac did not stop before it crashed into the bus.
The FHP would also like to talk to a good samaritan who helped out, but left before anyone spoke to him.
Leeper says the man was driving a Dodge 2500 pickup truck and got to the scene shortly after the crash. He towed the car away from the bus to prevent the bus from catching fire.
The Highway Patrol says the man's information could be helpful in the investigation.
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Created: 9/29/2009 3:36:58 PM 



