Central Lee bus driver killed in garage accident

MONTROSE – A Tuesday afternoon accident has claimed the life of a Montrose man and bus driver in the Central Lee School District.
At 3:45 p.m. LeeComm dispatched first responders to Montrose for a man in his 40s pinned under a vehicle in a garage, with the caller unable to access the area. By 3:46:46 p.m., LeeComm dispatchers gathered the necessary information and issued alerts to first responders, completing the dispatch process at 3:47:03 p.m.
Montrose Police Chief Todd Shields, arriving on the scene within minutes, found the man trapped beneath the vehicle he had been working on. Shortly after, Shields requested assistance from a Lee County Medical Examiner Investigator.
Due to the unattended nature of the death, the medical examiner was notified, and the body was sent to the state medical examiner’s office for autopsy. According to Shields, there was no indication of foul play, and the incident was deemed an unfortunate accident.
It appears a lift had failed on the vehicle and trapped Chris Rule, who drives bus 37 for the Central Lee School District, under the vehicle where he succumbed to his injuries.
Families in the district were notified of the tragedy Tuesday evening by school officials.
School counselors and staff were on hand to assist students through the loss on Wednesday.
Responding agencies included the Montrose Police Department, Montrose Fire and Rescue, Lee County EMS, the Lee County Sheriff’s Office, the Medical Examiner’s Office, and LeeComm.