Winter Haven Bus Crash Kills DeShawn Smith and Student

Two families are mourning after a school bus collision in Winter Haven, Florida, killed 26-year-old DeShawn Smith and 16-year-old Adinaluz Prieto Oyola on Monday, October 5, 2026. Investigators said a Chevrolet Malibu crossed the center line and struck the bus, sending it into Smith's Jeep as he drove to work. Dozens of people were injured in the crash.

According to Polk County Sheriff Grady Judd, the bus was carrying 39 people, including 37 high school students, the driver and the driver's 9-year-old daughter. The collision involved four vehicles and left the bus overturned.

Authorities said 35 people were taken to hospitals. Five to seven patients required trauma-level care, and one person was initially reported in critical condition. Three people remained hospitalized on Tuesday, October 6, with officials expecting them to be released.

Investigators identified the Malibu driver as Maria Jimenez, a 23-year-old nursing student who was traveling to work. Judd said she cooperated with authorities and reported that she could not remember the crash. Officials had not announced criminal charges, and the investigation remained ongoing as of Tuesday.

Smith's mother, Tina Griffin, said her son was traveling along his usual route when the collision occurred just minutes from home. She learned of his death around 4 p.m., several hours after the crash, which authorities said was reported at approximately 6:15 a.m.

Griffin described the devastating loss in an interview with Bay News 9.

"They took my baby from me," she said. "I want him back. I want him back."

The family had moved from Pennsylvania to Haines City in March, hoping to build a better life. Griffin said her only son had been a constant source of support.

"He was everything to me. He stayed with me. He looked out for me," Griffin said.

Griffin said she last saw Smith the night before he left for work early Monday morning. She initially believed he had arrived safely because nobody had contacted her about the collision.

"I really thought he made it to work," she said.

She explained that the delay in receiving the news made the loss even more difficult to comprehend.

"And the reason why I thought he made it to work is because the timing that I got told that he was gone, he was already gone by like 6:15 that morning and I didn't get notified 4 o'clock that evening." Griffin said.

Griffin also emphasized that her son should be remembered for his character and the life he was building. Speaking to FOX 35 Orlando, she described him as kind and willing to help others.

"He was just my shadow, my king, my prince, my best friend," she said.

She recalled how readily Smith responded when people needed assistance.

"Like anything anybody asked to do, he would just do it."

Griffin said the crash happened only a short distance from where her son lived.

"He didn't even make it 10 minutes from the house. It happened six minutes down the road from where he lived at," Griffin said.

She said she did not receive confirmation of his death until that afternoon.

"I never got told that my son didn't make it to work until like 4 o'clock that evening. And I am just so heartbroken," she said.

Griffin wants Smith's death to receive lasting recognition rather than be forgotten amid the wider tragedy.

"I just don't want my son's death to be overlooked by anyone," she said.

She stressed that her son had been an innocent motorist on his way to work.

"He was just an innocent victim, and he was just going to work. His life matters just as well as the next person."

Smith's stepfather, Kadafi Ala, said the family wants answers about how the collision happened and why the Malibu crossed into the bus's lane.

"Because somebody has to answer to that. Those are the questions I want to get down to the bottom with," Ala said.

The family thanked members of the community for supporting them after the death. A public memorial service for Smith is scheduled for 1 p.m. Saturday, October 24, at Holmes Funeral Directors in Haines City.

Judd described the collision during a news conference as a devastating incident.

"It was a horrible crash," Judd said.

He also characterized the morning's events as tragic.

"It was a terrible, tragic morning."

The New York Times also reported Judd's assessment of the scale of the incident.

"It was a horrible crash," Sheriff Judd said.

Judd said the incident was among the most severe school bus tragedies he could recall in the area.

"I think this is the most horrific bus tragedy we've had in decades, as far back as I can remember," Sheriff Judd said.

Polk County Public Schools Superintendent Fred Heid said the district was grateful that more students had not suffered serious injuries. He noted that school evacuation procedures are practiced to prepare students for emergencies.

"It's an incredibly tragic event that took place this morning," Heid said.

Heid explained that the drills are designed to help students respond when a bus accident occurs.

"We drill for this with our students intentionally so that they know how to evacuate a bus in the event of an accident, and we are very, very fortunate today that more students were not seriously injured, including the driver."

Authorities said the bus driver, Jessica Dye, sustained injuries but freed herself from the driver's seat and helped students evacuate. Judd said the bus had been traveling in its lane below the speed limit before the Malibu struck it, leaving the driver with no realistic opportunity to regain control.

Traffic homicide investigators and emergency personnel from several local agencies responded to the scene. The investigation was continuing, and Smith's memorial service remained scheduled for October 24.