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Schools

Car rear-ended by school bus, but no serious injuries

Four Largo High School students were taken to hospitals complaining of neck and back pain.

By JACOB H. FRIES
Published October 12, 2005

LARGO - Four Largo High School students complained of minor injuries Tuesday morning after their school bus rear-ended a car on East Bay Drive, authorities said.

Bus driver Clara C. Gayton, 54, was cited for careless driving, Largo police said.

The bus was headed west on East Bay Drive about 7:19 a.m. Tuesday when a Toyota Camry driven by Sandie C. Spicciati, a Largo High School nurse, slowed down, said Largo police Sgt. Mark Young. Spicciati had braked for a police cruiser that was attempting to pull over a car near Sixth Street NE.

The bus couldn't stop in time and rear-ended Spicciati's Toyota, which will need about $1,000 in repairs, Young said. The bus was not damaged.

There were 25 students on the bus, four of whom were taken to local hospitals after complaining of neck and back pain, Young said. None of the injuries were considered serious.

Gayton, who could not be reached for comment, and Spicciati were uninjured, the sergeant said. A backup driver arrived at the scene and finished Gayton's route to Largo High, Young said.

As standard procedure, Gayton will be undergo drug and alcohol tests, Pinellas County school spokesman Sterling Ivey said.

Previously, Gayton was ticketed for careless driving and passing on the right in 2001 and for speeding in a school zone earlier this year, records show.

It was unknown whether she committed the infractions while driving a bus or a personal vehicle. Ivey said he could not provide her driving history Tuesday.

[Last modified October 12, 2005, 00:19:18]