The Okeechobee school bus driver behind the wheel in the October 6th crash on state road 70 west said he has suffered a back injury and trauma from the accident.
David Joyner spoke to WOKC News about the accident and explained some of his heroic actions that saved students from serious injuries.
Eight students were taken to HCA/Raulerson hospital that morning after the head on collision.
Sheriff Deputies said the other driver was found to be at fault.
One student may undergo surgery.
Joyner said it was a very traumatic experience.
“You go by your instincts because it happened so quick.”
He had just stopped at Kissimmee River Estates and was headed back toward Lazy 7 when another car crossed the yellow line in front of him and he didn’t have time to even think, a second or two. You just had to respond as quickly as I could, and I did.
“The kids were crying and screaming. That’s the part I keep seeing in my head over and over again, I couldn’t sleep. You just feel like you should have done more but you couldn’t.”
Joyner said it was distressing to see social media posts that blamed him for the crash.
“Naysayers automatically say I’m at fault. I couldn’t tell them that I did everything I could to avoid the crash and there was nothing more than I could have done. You can’t control other people driving safely.”
Joyner said he hopes other drivers take notice and slow down and use caution around school buses.
Superintendent of Schools Dylan Tedders said Joyner will be honored at a future school board meeting for the actions he took.
“We need to honor David. Every time we have reached out to him the people form this office to check on him and make sure he is okay, they tell me after every call David is more worried about those students.”
Tedders said it is important to note how much training our drivers go through just to make sure kids get to and front school and events safely.
“All of our bus drivers including the driver of bus 2 care deeply about their students,” he added.
Newton Cook told the SFWMD recreation forum that he wants support to create a Lake Okeechobee committee.
The Florida Sportsman’s Conservation Association also supports the effort.
Cook said the committee should meet quarterly and have one agenda item. He said the water management district, Army Corps of Engineers and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission should give regular reports on what is being done to improve the lake.
The anglers and hunters in attendance learned high waters on the Kissimmee River have impacted camping areas in Okeechobee and Highlands County this fall.
At times they had to shut down Chandler Slough, Micco Landing, Oak Creek and the Florida trail near Lock 65-A due to the high water.
Sportsmen also would like another airboat launch off US 98 when water is too high on the river.
The district improved the shell rock road leading into Hickory Hammock in Cornwell. They also added new bathrooms at the Taylor Creek and Nubbin Slough Storm Water Treatment Areas.
Okeechobee city council approved the annual budget of $8.84 million. It will result on a 4.5 percent increase in property taxes collected this year. The city also agreed to spend $130,000 to resurface sections of NE 6th Street and NE 7th Street.
The Okeechobee Education Foundation said they have helped expand the Indian River State College nursing program. They had 85 students graduate from the program this year.
More information was released on Operation Slow and Go. Okeechobee County assisted several other agencies including the Palm Beach County Sheriff, Office of the Attorney General, the US Drug Enforcement Agency, and West Palm Beach Police.
The network was trafficking drugs like fentanyl, horse tranquilizers, methamphetamines, cocaine and ecstasy in seven Florida counties and Suffolk County, Virginia.
Six people have been arrested so far including Robert Townsend of Okeechobee.
Investigators said they seized a kilogram of cocaine, 334 grams of fentanyl, one bottle of horse tranquilizers, 94 grams of crack cocaine, 464 grams of methamphetamines, 471 pills, six handguns and 12 assault rifles.
Townsend faces charges of trafficking in methamphetamine, delivery of controlled substances nad unlawful use of a two-way communication device.