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Hernando school bus overturns

By DUANE BOURNE and ABHI RAGHUNATHAN
Published January 26, 2005

BROOKSVILLE - The Hernando County bus driver whose vehicle overturned on the way to school Wednesday morning had been the source of complaints by parents and reprimands by the district for his inability to manage students on his bus.

Ronald Gagliano, 61, of Spring Hill had also been cited for careless driving in his private car and for a bus accident at the Powell Middle School bus loop last September, records show.

Gagliano was issued a ticket for careless driving after his bus overturned on Powell Road as he drove students to Moton Elementary School Wednesday.

Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Trooper Larry Coggins blamed the incident on driver distraction. He said Gagliano looked into the rearview mirror to see if all the children were seated and lost sight of the road. Since Gagliano was hired in 2003, school district officials have repeatedly criticized his ability to drive while managing the behavior of students, personnel records show.

School district spokesman Roy Gordon refused to comment on Gagliano's work history or why his contract was renewed until school officials finished their own investigation of the accident. Until then, Gagliano would be suspended with pay, Gordon said.

Seven students were taken to local hospitals where they were treated for bumps and bruises. An eighth student was flown to St. Joseph's Hospital in Tampa as a precaution, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The wreck occurred about 8:25 a.m. after Gagliano made his last stop and began the 4-mile trip to Moton Elementary. Traveling east on Powell Road, the bus rounded a slight bend near Endsley Road and suddenly careened off the pavement.

But as Gagliano tried to regain control, he overcorrected and the bus crossed the two-lane road and began a nasty spin, Coggins said.

The bus came to rest on its roof on the north shoulder of Powell Road.

The impact sent the 24 children onboard flying, some onto their heads. Bloodied, Gagliano guided some of the children toward to the rear emergency exit.

Bystanders driving on Powell Road stopped and rushed to help the children. By the time the first ambulance and fire trucks arrived, all of the children were off the bus and were being evaluated in a staging area across the road.

District officials said the bus, which had over 246,000 miles, had been inspected by the Department of Transportation just after the accident and deemed safe.

[Last modified January 26, 2005, 19:55:49]