The result was serious injuries to herself and one other student and minor injuries to 17 other passengers on the field trip to the National Naval Airstation in Pensacola, Fla. The NTSB report found that, for an inexplicable reason, the Okaloosa County School District driver of the 2002 Blue Bird/International 65-passenger school bus began to drift into the left lane while traveling at 55 mph on Interstate 10 about 10 miles east of Milton, Fla.

The school bus was struck in the left rear by a 2002 Chevrolet Tahoe, four-door SUV that was traveling at approximately 70 to 75 mph. The two vehicles became snagged at the bumper and remained in contact for approximately 17 to 18 feet. The school bus veered back into the right lane, taking with it the SUV, where the vehicles separated.

While the SUV eventually came to a stop on the grass median, the school bus began to rotate in a clockwise manner. When the school bus front left tire began to plow the median, it overturned and rolled over at least twice, separating the body from the chassis. The Florida Highway Patrol report indicated the crash was caused by the school bus driver's improper lane change.

NTSB came on scene to investigate seat belts in rollover accidents. The school bus driver was secured by a three-point lap/shoulder restraint system, and the three adult chaperones and 14 students were wearing two-point lap belts. The one student passenger who, along with the driver, suffered serious injuries was thought to have slipped out of a loosely worn belt.

NTSB found the injury severity was mitigated by the use of the lap belts. It also agreed with the Florida Highway Patrol report that determined the probably cause of the crash as being the school bus driver's failure to maintain he traffic lane.