Baker Man Charged in Left-Turn Accident Involving School Bus

OKALOOSA COUNTY, FLORIDA – As reported online by www.nwfdailynews.com, a 21-year-old Baker man is facing charges after allegedly causing a left-turn accident when he pulled out in front of a school bus.*

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, on the morning of May 6, 2019, a 21-year-old Baker man was making a left turn from Keyser Mill Road to Galiver Cutoff when he pulled out in front of a school bus driven by a 61-year-old man.  The Okaloosa County school bus struck the driver’s side of the 21-year-old man’s Nissan Sentra.

The Florida Highway Patrol concluded that the 21-year-old Baker man failed to yield to the right of way of the school bus when making his left turn onto Galiver Cutoff.  While the accident was not serious, three students on the school bus were taken to North Okaloosa Medical Center for treatment of minor injuries.

What You Should Know About Left-Turn Accidents

Making a left turn can be dangerous, especially if there is no stop light or stop sign at an intersection.  Visibility may be low, and many drivers may take a chance by quickly turning left without ensuring traffic is clear.  When intersections do not have stop signs or stop lights, drivers should be especially cautious to ensure the coast is clear before making a left turn.

The Florida Highway Patrol determined that the school bus involved in the Okaloosa County accident had the right-of-way, and therefore, the 21-year-old Baker man did not make a lawful left turn.  The young driver is lucky to have not sustained serious injuries, especially given the large size of the school bus.  Many drivers and passengers have not been so lucky in similar accidents, sustaining catastrophic injuries and deaths.

Accident News is a driver safety and education initiative from Montlick & Associates, designed to help people better understand and thereby avoid common accident causes.  To learn more about our injury prevention programs, including iridesafe.com - click here. We hope you are never in an accident, but if you or family member are injured, call Montlick & Associates 24/7 for your free consultation at 1-800-LAW-NEED (1-800-529-6333) or use our live chat at Montlick.com.

Source:https://www.nwfdailynews.com/news/20190506/baker-man-causes-school-bus-crash-lawmen-say