Driver dies after rear-ending school bus on Pembroke Road, police say

No children on school bus at time of crash

PEMBROKE PINES, Fla. – One person was killed Thursday morning in a crash involving a school bus in Pembroke Pines.

The crash was reported just before 6:30 a.m. on Pembroke Road.

Pembroke Pines police said the bus driven by Joseph Jean-Philippe, was stopped at a red light in the westbound lanes when the bus was rear-ended by a red 2013 Toyota Camry.

The impact of the crash caused the Camry to become wedged beneath the rear of the bus.

Police said the driver of the Camry was pronounced dead at the scene and a passenger in the Camry was taken to Memorial Regional Hospital with serious injuries.

No students were aboard the bus at the time, and Jean-Philippe was not injured, police said.

The driver of the Camry was identified as Dean Bass, 36, of Tamarac. The passenger was identified as Claude Murray Jr., 55, of Palatka.

Westbound lanes of Pembroke Road were closed from South Douglas Road to 99th Avenue after the crash.

"How do you miss a school bus at a red light?" Pembroke Pines police Sgt. John Baker said. "I don't know. We'll figure that out with our investigation."


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Amanda Batchelor is the Digital Executive Producer for Local10.com.