Bus driver from Cape cited after crash
A school bus driver from Cape Coral has been cited in a traffic crash involving students.
Silverio Oliva Funez, 58, was cited for careless driving in the Monday accident.
The Florida Highway Patrol reported that Funez was driving a school bus north on Gunnery Road South in the inside lane and approaching 23rd Street Southwest. At about 2:45 p.m., a Chevrolet Equinox traveling in front of the bus stopped for traffic and Funez failed to stop behind the vehicle.
The front of the bus collided into the rear of the Chevrolet.
The bus was occupied by 35 Gateway Charter School students. The FHP reported that five children sustained very minor injuries, but the parents declined to have them taken to the hospital for treatment.
One girl, at the request of her parents, was taken to Lehigh Regional Medial Center as a precaution.
Funez was not injured in the crash.
The driver of the Chevrolet, Jerry Matthews, 58, of Fort Myers, sustained minor injuries and was transported to the Gulf Coast Medical Center. As of Tuesday, he had been treated and released.
The FHP reported that the accident was not alcohol-related.
Funez was found at-fault and cited.
The Gateway Charter School system did not return messages seeking comment.