Fla. officials say Mass. man, Va. woman killed in tour bus crash; 3 others still critical

Fla. officials identify 2 killed in tour bus crash

LAKE PLACID, Fla. — The Florida Highway Patrol has identified two people killed when a tour bus taking them on a sightseeing trip crashed in central Florida.

John Roy, 79, of Cohasset, Mass., and Joan Horsch, 78, of Abingdon, Va., died in Monday’s crash, officers said.

Three others were critically injured, but officers have not identified them. Many of the 32 people on the charter bus were from Boston or New York. All ranged in age from 66 to 87 and had traveled to Florida to participate in an educational program affiliated with South Florida Community College in Avon Park.

The bus was hit by a car, ran off the road and rolled over at least twice, ejecting several passengers.

Betty J. Adams, 81, failed to yield while turning onto a rural highway and hit the side of the bus, according to a Florida Highway Patrol crash report. She was not hurt.

A man who answered the phone at Adams’ home Tuesday said he was her husband and that he and his wife wouldn’t comment on the crash. No charges had been filed Tuesday afternoon.

“She’s real bad shook up,” the man said, declining to give his name.

The bus was driven by 69-year-old Larry L. Metzger, who suffered serious injuries.

Only one person on the bus was not hurt, though some of the injuries were minor.

The program they were involved in, called “Exploritas,” is based in Boston. It was previously known as Elderhostel, a nonprofit, lifelong learning and educational travel group.

An Exploritas news release Tuesday said staff members have arrived in Florida and are meeting with crash victims.

The organization would not provide names of the people aboard the bus, citing privacy concerns.

“As you will understand, all of our efforts are focused on providing care and support to the victims of this terrible accident and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased,” said James Moses, president of Exploritas, in a statement.

The group had just visited murals in Lake Placid, about 30 miles northwest of Lake Okeechobee, and was headed back to a nearby hotel when the accident occurred.