Bus transporting inmates involved in accident, 10 injured

IMMOKALEE — Ten people were injured when a Hendry Correctional Institution bus carrying 12 inmates was involved in an accident in Immokalee Monday.

The crash occurred just after 6 a.m. on East Main Street near the Western Union.

According to Florida Highway Patrol reports the bus was northbound on the inside lane of East Main Street, when a 1996 Isuzu, which was travelling southbound on East Main Street, attempted to make a left turn onto C.R. 846 to get into the Sunoco Gas Station, 726 East Main Street.

The front of the Isuzu hit the front of the bus, rotated and overturned.

Reports said that while rotating, the roof of the Isuzu hit the front left of the bus before finally coming to rest facing southeast between the inside and outside northbound lanes of East Main Street.

FHP officials said that only the first name of the Isuzu’s driver, Carlos, was known and whether the accident was alcohol related is still pending.

Bus driver Earle Wilson Jr., 64, of Labelle, passenger Anthony Wayne, 43, of Lehigh Acres, and inmates James Cooper, 36, and Robert Magno, 45, were not hurt.

Inmates James Pender, 23, Ernest Gamble, 27, John Garbello, 33, and Joey Joseph, 23, were transported to NCH North Naples Hospital with minor injuries.

Inmates Terry McGriff, 39, Bernanrd Black, 43, James Bradford, 47, Edwin Parrilla, 28, Marcus Gaskin, 29, and Anthony Hickman, 23, were transported to Physicians Regional Medical Center Pine Ridge.