A school bus and an SUV collided head-on Thursday afternoon after the SUV crossed the median and slammed into the bus atop the Memorial Causeway, according to Clearwater Fire & Rescue.

  • No students were on board the bus
  • SUV driver hospitalized with life-threatening injuries
  • WB lanes of Memorial Causeway closed for investigation

Investigators say the driver of the SUV, Jamin A. Carter, 45, lost control of the car while driving eastbound on the Causeway. The car veered into a light pole, then crossed the median and struck the school bus head-on.

No students were on board the bus at the time of the crash. Earlier, it had been carrying visiting elementary school students from Georgia.

Carter remains at Bayfront Health St. Petersburg in critical condition. The driver of the school bus, Brett Taylor, 22, of Axson, Georgia, was also transported to Bayfront, but his injuries were not life-threatening. Taylor was treated and later released.

The visiting students from Pearson Elementary School in Georgia were picked up and transported home by charter bus.

The investigation into the crash is ongoing.