Winter Garden Lynx driver involved in bus crash

ORLANDO  Winter Garden resident Carlos Santiago, 37, was loading and unloading passengers on his Lynx bus this afternoon when a pickup slammed into the rear of the bus, according to Florida Highway Patrol reports.

Apopka man Darren Mercer, 20, lost control of his pickup at about 1:10 p.m. while driving in the outside southbound lane of Orange Blossom Trail near its intersection with 37th Street, ultimately striking the bus with the front-right end of the truck.

Although Mercer emerged unscathed, Santiago is in serious condition while Mercer's passenger is at Orlando Regional Medical Center in critical condition. About 12 Lynx passengers received transport to various hospitals for injuries officials described as not life-threatening.

Troopers have attended to the scene, where the right southbound lane was blocked.

No further information is available at this time.

Contact Zak Kerr at [email protected].