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7-year-old Struck and Fatally Injured in Canada

20 December 2024 at 23:01

A 7-year-old boy from London, Ontario, was struck and fatally injured in a collision as he was getting off his school bus, reported CBC News.

The incident reportedly occurred on Monday afternoon, when the boy identified as Dante Caranci, was exiting his school bus and a passing vehicle struck him.

According to the news report, Caranci was rushed to London’s Victoria Hospital following the crash and was pronounced dead on Tuesday. London Police have not released many details of the crash.

A GoFundMe launched to help cover funeral costs and any other expenses had reportedly raised more than $91,000 as of Wednesday.

Police have not stated if charges are pending in the collision, and few details have been made public. Judy Madzia, the boy’s grandmother, told local news reporters that she had not seen any police report and was still unsure exactly what had happened.

Authorities have reportedly asked anyone with a dash cam who may have been traveling through the area between 3:45 p.m. and 4:05 p.m. to contact them.


Related: Wisconsin Child Fatally Struck by Car While Waiting for School Bus
Related: Teen Struck, Killed by Kentucky School Bus
Related: 9-year-old Boy Struck by SUV While Waiting for School Bus
Related: Ohio Child Struck by Vehicle While Getting Off School Bus

The post 7-year-old Struck and Fatally Injured in Canada appeared first on School Transportation News.

Teens Hailed Heroes in Kentucky School Bus Crash

20 December 2024 at 23:00

Two Cooper High School students ended up heroes for jumping into action after their bus driver suffered a medical emergency, reported WCPO News.

The incident reportedly occurred Wednesday morning, when the school bus driver was transporting students.

According to the news report, Karter Dearwester, who was inside the bus at the time of the incident along with his friend Micah Jones, noticed their bus was getting too close to a mailbox.

Dearwester told local news reporters that the school bus driver was slumped over the wheel and seemed to have passed out. The teen immediately woke up Jones, who quickly got up, pushed the brakes of the bus and then removed the keys from the ignition.

According to the article, Jones checked their school bus driver’s pulse while Dearwester called first responders.

Authorities say via news reports that the school bus left the road and collided with several trees in the backyard of a home.

The boys said they recall there was a lot of screaming coming from the back of the school bus as not many students had reportedly sat in the front. The teens helped the other students, as police and other emergency crews began to arrive.

The school bus driver was rushed to the ICU and three students were reportedly hospitalized in unknown conditions. The quick actions of the two boys received praise from their principal Mike Wilson.

Wilson told local news reporters that they had no updates on the driver’s condition other than he is in stable condition and everyone at Cooper is praying for a full recovery.


Related: Colorado School Bus Driver Hailed Hero After Fire
Related: Mississippi Student Hailed a Hero After School Bus Crash
Related: Watch: Kentucky District Superintendent Recognizes Community Heroes in School Bus Crash
Related: Florida School Bus Driver Hailed Hero for Protecting Hit-and-Run Victim

The post Teens Hailed Heroes in Kentucky School Bus Crash appeared first on School Transportation News.

North Carolina Students Injured After Gunshots Fired Outside School Bus

19 December 2024 at 18:15

A Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools bus was hit with gunfire, reported WCNC Charlotte.

The Charlotte-Mecklenburg Police Department released a statement saying that the gunfire came from a drug-related dispute that occurred outside the school bus on Monday. The bus was not the intended target, police added. Two students from Albemarle Middle School were injured from glass broken by the gunfire, according to the police statement.

Police arrested 21-year-old Lamarius Ramel Anthony, who is charged with carrying a concealed weapon and felony possession of cocaine.

Local security guard Eyersol Belbuel was reportedly nearby when the shooting occurred and assisted the school bus driver in safely evacuating all the students.


Related: Teen Charged in Pennsylvania School Bus Shooting, 3 Others Wanted
Related: Texas Student Fires Gun on School Bus
Related: Arizona Student Found with Gun on School Bus

The post North Carolina Students Injured After Gunshots Fired Outside School Bus appeared first on School Transportation News.

South Carolina Man Explains Why He Blocked School Bus Path with Wheelchair

18 December 2024 at 13:00

A South Carolina man says he does not understand and disagrees with people accusing him of endangering students and calling him a menace after rolling his wheelchair in front of a moving school bus, reported Sun News.

According to the news report, Doug Champa, a U.S. Marine veteran, was arrested on Nov. 22 after he used his wheelchair to block a school bus that was attempting to drive through his Conway area neighborhood to drop off children.

Champa, 58, is reportedly accused of riding in front of the bus, preventing it from getting around him by moving in its path, and slowing the bus down to 5 mph.

Champa, who was paralyzed after a car crash in 1986, told local news reporters that he was protesting what he claimed was frequent speeding of school buses in his neighborhood over the posted 15 mph speed limit. He said his goal was not to get arrested but rather to draw attention his safety concerns because of children who live in the area as well as his 88-year-old mother.

The article states that Champa claims he and his neighbors have been dealing with speeding buses for about three years. He said he called the Horry County Schools transportation department and complained, pleading with them to have buses slow down, but is always met with the same answer.

Officials reportedly tell Champa that the buses have GPS on the vehicles and that it indicates that the buses are not speeding. Confusion may arise from the street where Champa lives compare to the next street over, Drawbridge Drive, which has speed limit of 25 mph.

According to local news reporters, Champa pointed out that a regular-sized vehicle can barely see him when he’s in front of it and emphasized that a school bus driver would definitely not be able to see him not to mention small children.

Other neighbors have reportedly raised concerns about speeding and started a petition to get speed bumps placed along the roadway. It wsa unclear if speed bumps will eventually be placed along the street.

Champa, who says he’s always been an advocate for children and people with disabilities, said he would never physically hurt anybody. He was reportedly released on a $1,000 bond for the charge of interfering with the operation of a school bus.


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Related: What Do School Bus Drivers Want to Increase Safety?

The post South Carolina Man Explains Why He Blocked School Bus Path with Wheelchair appeared first on School Transportation News.

Three Virginia Children Found Safe After Reported Kidnapping

13 December 2024 at 22:26

An Amber Alert the morning of Dec. 5 notified residents of the kidnapping of three children. By 6 p.m. the alert was cancelled, reported WLBT 3.

According to the news report, the three children “were waiting for the bus,” when a black four-door vehicle pulled up to the bus stop and took the children. Authorities confirmed the reported kidnapping took place at the Bobby’s Way apartment complex in Fishersville.

The Virginia State Police said via the article that the alert was cancelled after the children were found safe. Officials said it was determined that the children’s estranged biological mother, Shanice Davidson, was responsible for their disappearance.

Police reportedly believed the children, Jai’Marcus Lewis, 10, Ja’Miyah Lewis, 8, and Ja’Liyah Lewis,6, were with Davidson, who resides in Evergreen, Alabama. Deputies said the 911 call was from the children’s other parent at about 8:27 a.m.

Davidson was described as a 35-year-old Black female, 5 feet 5 inches tall, 184 pounds with black hair and brown eyes. According to the Alabama Highway Patrol and U.S. Marshals Service, Davidson was taken into custody in Birmingham Alabama, after a brief pursuit along Interstate 495.

Davidson was reportedly arrested on abduction warrants from the Augusta County Sheriff’s Office. The incident remains under investigation.


Related: Massachusetts School Bus Driver Accused of Kidnapping Children
Related: Tennessee Man Accused of Attempting to Kidnap Girls from School Bus Stop
Related: Virginia School Bus Aide Arrested for Alleged Assault
Related: Virginia School Bus Driver Faces Child Pornography, Contributing to Delinquency Charges

The post Three Virginia Children Found Safe After Reported Kidnapping appeared first on School Transportation News.

New Incentives in Place to Keep Illinois School Bus Drivers Working During Holidays

10 December 2024 at 18:59

School bus drivers in Bourbonnais, Illinois, will be able to earn up to $700 in bonuses for working the day before and after both a holiday in Bourbonnais Elementary School District, reported Daily Journal.

According to the news report, the Bourbonnais School Board unanimously approved a new bonus system on Aug. 20, to incentivize attendance around the holidays for bus drivers.

Transportation Director Scott Austin said the district sees a sharp uptick in drivers calling off work before and after holidays and breaks.

The district reportedly employs 18 bus drivers for its approximately 130 daily bus routes, but it could use four or five additional flexible drivers to help cover routes when others call in sick.

Austin reportedly said that over the last two years, the call-offs the day before and after the holiday increased more than 87 percent. With the news bonus system, the district will be eliminating its annual $250 bonus for drivers who miss 10 or few days per year; this was given to 14 drivers last year.

According to the article, drivers will now be able to earn a $100 bonus for each holiday when they work both the day before and the day after, for a possible total of $700. Additionally, drivers can also still receive $100 quarterly bonuses for perfect attendance.

The districts drivers will reportedly make $26 per hour this year. The seven holidays for te bonuses will include Labor Day, Columbus Day, Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day and Memorial Day.

For the extended Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays, drivers who work the day before and the day after the school break receive the bonus. Austin said via the article that the desired outcome is to eliminate staffing complications for the transportation department, which is “in the same boat” as many other districts struggling to maintain a full staff of bus drivers.


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The post New Incentives in Place to Keep Illinois School Bus Drivers Working During Holidays appeared first on School Transportation News.

Florida Paraprofessional Facing Child Abuse Charges

3 December 2024 at 21:22

A Bay County, Florida, paraprofessional for Bay District Schools is facing child abuse charges following an incident on a school bus earlier this month, reported WDHN News.

According to the news report, Panama City Police arrested 57-year-old Sylinda Goodman on Wednesday and charged her with four counts, including child abuse and simple assault with the intentional threat to commit violence.

Investigators say via the article that on Nov. 5, the school bus cameras recorded Goodman hitting, punching and pinching several children through her job as a paraprofessional.

According to the article, the video allegedly recorded Goodman instructing one student with disabilities to hit another child who is non-verbally autistic.

Goodman is reportedly being held in the Bay County Jail on a $10,000 bond. Police also charged the bus driver Althea Russell with child neglect for failing to intervene or report the alleged abuse.


Related: Virginia School Bus Aide Arrested for Alleged Assault
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Related: Florida Woman Convicted of 2021 Death of Girl at School Bus Stop

The post Florida Paraprofessional Facing Child Abuse Charges appeared first on School Transportation News.

Senior Citizens Celebrate Thanksgiving at a Massachusetts Junior High School

27 November 2024 at 20:00

Tri-Town senior citizens in Massachusetts celebrated an early Thanksgiving dinner at Old Rochester Regional Junior High School with the help of 50 student volunteers, reported Sippican Week.

According to the news report, a Thanksgiving dinner was held on Sunday where nearly 250 senior citizens joined and enjoyed the event.

It was the 31st rendition of the annual event and school administrative assistant Toni Bailey said via the article that it was one of the largest held.

The event was reportedly funded by the Tri-Town community. Donations were raised for the turkey and other thanksgiving specialties and local farms donate apple pies and cider.

The school’s principal, Silas Coellner, said the event also provides a great learning experience for the student volunteers.

In years past, volunteers for the event had reportedly been eighth graders only; however, this year seventh graders joined them.

Students helped senior citizens find their seats, served them food, refill their drinks and clear their plates. After the meal was finished, dozens of gifts and prizes that were reportedly donated by the community were raffled off to guests.

“The kids love it, and the seniors love it” said Coellner via the article.


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The post Senior Citizens Celebrate Thanksgiving at a Massachusetts Junior High School appeared first on School Transportation News.

Colorado School Bus Driver Dismissed After Leaving Students at Wrong Bus Stop

27 November 2024 at 14:43

A Colorado school bus driver was dismissed after he allegedly abandoned 40 elementary school students at the wrong bus stop in cold weather, reported NBC News.

According to the news report, the bus driver, identified as Irving Johnson, allegedly left the young students from Clear Sky Elementary School in Castle Rock about 30 miles south of Denver, in tears and seeking aid from strangers.

The Douglas County School District said via the article that Johnson was a substitute driver who failed to follow proper protocols.

Johnson reportedly skipped students’ drop-off stops while on the road and ultimately drove near the corner of East Wolfensberger Road and Auburn Drive, about two miles from the school. There, he allegedly told the kids to get off the bus into the cold around 5 p.m.

The school district reportedly sent an apology email on Wednesday to the families of the students on the bus and confirmed the driver was no longer employed by the district.

The driver shared an apology via the article and stated that he was unfamiliar with the route and his tablet had stopped working so he asked the kids for directions. When asked if he felt like he did his job of keeping the kids safe, Johnson said “No, I don’t.”

The district stated that parents have requested to see video footage from the bus during the incident; however, the footage will not be released as an active investigation with the Castle Rock Police Department is ongoing.


Related: Wisconsin School Bus Driver Arrested
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The post Colorado School Bus Driver Dismissed After Leaving Students at Wrong Bus Stop appeared first on School Transportation News.

Wisconsin Woman Accused of Punching School Bus Driver

26 November 2024 at 23:24

A woman from Milwaukee, Wisconsin faces charges for allegedly punching a school bus driver, reported Fox 6.

According to the news report, police responded to a battery 911 call on Nov. 6 after 20-year-old Danielle Dobbin allegedly physically assaulted a school bus driver.

The article states that when officers arrived at the scene, they communicated with the driver who was inside the vehicle with two young children.

The bus driver, who was not identified at this writing, reportedly told authorities that a black four-door car passed her on their right side and stopped in front of the bus, then began to back up. When the bus driver honked the horn to alert the driver of the car, which allegedly was Dobbin, the woman got out of her car and began yelling at the bus driver.

The bus driver told police via the article that she was not allowed to reverse the school bus without permission from dispatch, so she did not move the bus.

According to the bus driver, Dobbin reportedly walked up to the bus yelling and opened the side bus door threatening to take the bus driver’s purse. When the bus driver moved the purse, Dobbin allegedly swung her closed fist and punched the bus driver multiple times. Because the bus driver was still strapped into the driver’s seat by the seat belt, she said she could not move away from the punches.

When Dobbin stepped away from the bus, the bus driver reportedly closed the school bus door, called dispatch and described the driver of the car and what had happened.

The bus driver reportedly directed the authorities to the driveway where she said she saw Dobbin enter her vehicle. That is how police say they identified Dobbin, who told officers that the bus was traveling closely behind her and “stopped within 2 feet” of her vehicle.

Dobbin reportedly told officials that because the bus driver refused to back up, she punched the bus driver. She also stated that this incident would not have happened if the bus driver had locked the driver’s side door in the bus.

Surveillance footage from the bus was reportedly collected by police and, according to authorities, the video depicts the incident completely.

Dobbin is now facing charges of physical abuse of an elderly person, intentionally causing bodily harm and disorderly conduct. She was scheduled to make her initial appearance in Milwaukee County court on Nov. 8. The incident remains under investigation.


Related: Florida Man Arrested After Punching Bus Aide
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Related: Boston School Bus Driver Allegedly Assaulted on School Bus by Parent

The post Wisconsin Woman Accused of Punching School Bus Driver appeared first on School Transportation News.

School Bus Contractor Owner Allegedly Forged Documents to Stay Licensed

22 November 2024 at 19:30

The owner of a Franklin County school bus contractor in Pennsylvania has been accused of forging documents, in order to continue driving a school bus even though she was not cleared, reported ABC 27.

According to the news report, charges were filed against 72-year-old Theresa Keifman on Monday, the owner of Keifman Busing, for allegedly forging documents for years.

State police said Kelfman doctored original documents dating back to 2018 by changing the year to be more current. Keifman reportedly did this so she could continue to drive a bus with a passenger and school bus endorsement.

Officials said that 2017 was the last time Keifman passed the required medical examination. The new date was the only thing she changed on the documents, leaving the rest exactly the same each year.

Police said Keifman was not medically cleared to drive the bus. The articled noted that school bus drivers in Pennsylvania must obtain a valid physical examination every 13 months to ensure they are medically cleared to drive students.

During the investigation, officers reportedly reviewed Keifman’s Pennsylvania Department of Transportation and medical records. She now faces felony charges of forgery along with misdemeanor charges of tampering with records or ID, tampering with/fabricating physical evidence, tampering with public record/information, and unsworn falsification to authorities.

Keifman is reportedly out on unsecured bail set at $25,000 and has a preliminary hearing scheduled for Nov. 25.


Related: Michigan School Bus Driver Charged in Fatal Crash
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Related:Pennsylvania Driver Suspended After Allegedly Shoving Student
Related: North Carolina School Bus Driver Charged with Sex Crimes Against Students

The post School Bus Contractor Owner Allegedly Forged Documents to Stay Licensed appeared first on School Transportation News.

Tennessee Parents to Sue School After it Bans Son’s Service Dog

19 November 2024 at 18:39

A family in Memphis, Tennessee, is suing Germantown School District after Dogwood Elementary School allegedly prohibited their son’s service dog from returning to school, reported WREG 3.

Their 9-year-old son is nonverbal, has physical and intellectual disabilities, and suffers from 10 to 15 seizures a day, among other conditions.

The boy, who is not identified in this writing, reportedly received a service dog named Herbie in the spring. The dog is trained to alert others when the boy is about to have a seizure.

According to the lawsuit filed on Nov. 8, the school claims Herbie spent most of his time at school not in the presence of the boy, sniffing others, eating their food, and ignoring commands. The school also claimed that the dog had caused the boy to fall twice.

The article states that the parents, who claim Herbie is well behaved at home, tried to work with the school but the principal told them that the dog was no longer welcome. This would be a violation of the Americans with Disabilities Act and Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act.

The district stated via the article that it has allowed service animals in its schools for several years and will continue to do so. Additionally, the district denied any allegation of violating ADA and Section 5


Related: New York Student with Disabilities Removed from School Bus Service
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Related: Does your state require school bus evacuation training for students with disabilities and special needs?

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Ohio Teen Cited for Reckless Driving

19 November 2024 at 15:42

A Teen in Tuscarawas County, Ohio, has been cited and must appear in juvenile court after intentionally passing a school bus while it was unloading students, reported WTRF.

The incident reportedly occurred on Nov. 5, when a 17-year-old teen girl drove through the front yard of a residence to pass an Indian Valley Schools bus while the it was actively releasing children from the bus.

According to the news report, Deputy Grant Haun with the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office initiated an investigation after authorities received a report of reckless operation in the Wainwright area. Multiple witnesses gave statements.

The investigation reportedly concluded when the driver of the car, whose name was not included in this writing, admitted that she intentionally passed the bus because she wanted to get home quicker.

Officials state via the article that the juvenile driver was issued a citation for failing to stop for a stopped school bus in violation of Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.75 (A). The teen is scheduled to appear in court at a later date.


Related: Ohio School Bus Driver Found Not Guilty of Driving Impaired
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Related: Maryland Teen Charged as Adult for Attempted Murder on School Bus

The post Ohio Teen Cited for Reckless Driving appeared first on School Transportation News.

West Virginia School Hosts Mock Bus Crash

13 November 2024 at 07:16

Student transporters at Lincoln County Schools in West Virginia, alongside the Hamlin Volunteer Fire Department, Duval Volunteer Fire Department and Lincoln Emergency Services, created a mock bus crash to practice their response, reported WSAZ 3.

The mock bus crash reportedly took place on Oct. 29, with local EMS, fire departments and real people acting out the crash.

Peggy Stone, transportation director for Lincoln County Schools, told local news reporters that she believes it was a wonderful learning experience for everyone.

Jimmy Lacy, state director of transportation at the West Virginia Department of Education, also told local news reporters that “this does not happen often but in case of emergency when it actually does, it’s good for the first responders, even the bus drivers and the community to know how and what is going to happen in that situation.”

These types of mock crashes and drills should be encouraged so the community and first responders can know what to expect and how to act if an emergency occurs.


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Related: Iowa Crash Test Identifies Limits of Protection in School Bus Compartmentalization

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Indiana Student Abandoned by School Bus at Halloween Event

6 November 2024 at 19:10

A mother is demanding action after her daughter was left behind by her school bus during a field trip to a pumpkin patch last month, reported WRTV.

According to the news report, 6-year-old Cianni Allen was found wandering alone in the pumpkin patch at Tuttle Orchards in Greenfield, Indiana, after she was left behind during a school trip for two hours.

Allen’s classmates and teachers reportedly boarded a bus and traveled 26 miles back to school without her.

Allen’s mother, Dearra, was alerted when she received a panicked call from staff at Christel House Academy West regarding the incident. She rushed to the school while a teacher went to pick up Allen at the orchards.

Dearra told local news reporters that despite the school’s apologies and their “attempt to keep her quiet” she is not letting this go and has contacted lawyers. She says the class left the orchard at 2 p.m. and arrived back at the school at 2:45 p.m. Staff did not realize Allen was missing until the patch called the school and notified them.

Allen reportedly returned to school at 4:30 p.m., almost two hours after the rest of her classmates.


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New York School Bus Hit by ‘Projectile’ with Students Onboard

5 November 2024 at 18:31

An East Irondequoit Central School District school bus transporting 10 Aquina Institute students was purportedly hit by a bullet, reported RochesterFirst.

The incident reportedly occurred on Monday morning, when the school bus was travelling along route 104 and two of its windows were shattered.

According to the news report, both the school district and Aquinas said the bus had been struck by a bullet and confirmed that there were no reported injuries at the time of the incident. However, New York State police said the school bus was hit by a projectile.

New York State Police are reportedly continuing to investigate the incident and its asking anyone with information to contact them.


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Ohio Man Holding a Baseball Bat Tries to Get on School Bus

4 November 2024 at 08:00

Parents in Farmersville, Ohio, are concerned after a man with a baseball bat tried to get on a school bus and exposed himself to students, reported WHIO TV 7.

The incident reportedly occurred on Oct. 25, when a Valley View Local School District school bus was at one of its stops, and a man holding a baseball bat attempted to board the bus.

According to the news report, when the school bus driver told the man he could not be on the bus. The man, who is not identified in this writing, exposed himself and then left. However, authorities said they do not believe the man did not expose himself on purpose.

Police said the man walked toward the car behind the bus and hit it with his bat.

The man was reportedly detained and taken to Miami Valley Hospital for mental evaluation. The driver was recognized for not allowing the man to get on the bus.


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Massachusetts School Van Driver Faces DUI, Child Endangerment Charges

1 November 2024 at 20:00

A Somerset, Massachusetts driver is facing charges after she was accused of driving a school van with children on board while being drunk, reported WJAR.

The alleged incident occurred on Tuesday afternoon, when state police troopers pulled over a Grand Caravan with a school bus plate that was being driven erratically on Route 140 in New Bedford.

According to the news report, the driver identified as Rebecca Shing was transporting four children and an 18-year-old at the time of the incident.

State police said Shing, 34, was charged with operating a vehicle under the influence of alcohol and four counts of child endangerment. Shing admitted to consuming suboxone, an opioid addiction treatment drug, and was arrested after an investigation and a 0.15 blood alcohol content reading from a breathalyzer test administered on site.

Court documents indicate Shing was driving a van that belongs to H&L Bloom Inc., a transportation service based in Taunton, where she was employed as a driver.

Shing entered a not guilty plea, and she was released on $1,000 cash bail. Her license was suspended, and she was terminated from her job at H&L Bloom. She must complete and pass three remote alcohol tests a day while she awaits her pretrial hearing on Nov. 29.


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Related: Massachusetts School Bus Driver Charged with Drunk Driving

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North Texas School Bus Engine Catches Fire, Students Evacuated Safely

1 November 2024 at 19:59

A school bus driver in DeSoto, Texas is being acknowledged for quick actions after safely evacuating students when smoke began to fill the bus, reported WFAA News.

According to the news report, the incident occurred on Oct. 25, when a DeSoto Independent School District shuttle bus was transporting students from one campus to another.

The driver, who was not identified in this writing, noticed the bus starting to fill up with smoke and pulled over and quickly evacuated all students from the bus, escorting them to a safe space away from the vehicle.

The article states a second bus was dispatched to complete the transportation. As the students were awaiting the replacement bus, the engine on the first bus caught fire.

The school bus front windows reportedly shattered, the driver’s side door was charred, and the window was also blown out.

It is unclear what caused the engine to catch fire. No one was reportedly injured, and the students were safely transported to campus.


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Related: Connecticut School Bus Catches on Fire

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Parents of 11-Year-Old Speak Out About Politicization of Ohio School Bus Death

31 October 2024 at 22:43

The parents of an 11-year-old boy who was involved in a fatal school bus crash in Springfield, Ohio, in August 2023, are speaking out about their son’s death, reported WLWT 5.

Aidan Clark was killed when he was ejected from his school bus as he and 51 other students were on their way to the first day of school on Aug. 23, 2023. A minivan traveling in the opposite direction crossed over the center line and caused the crash, which broke the school bus rear axle and caused it to overturn. It was the first on-board school bus fatality in Ohio since 2010.

Following the incident, Gov. Mike DeWine called for the Ohio Department of Public Safety to form a school bus safety working group to debate the topic of school bus seatbelts and other safety topics. After meeting several times last fall and hearing from a range of safety experts and school bus operators, the working group issued 17 recommendations on school bus safety, the majority of them focused on school bus drivers and training available to them, maintenance professionals and the community.

The van that crashed into the school bus was driven by Hermanio Joseph, a 36-year-old Haitian immigrant, who was found guilty on counts of felony involuntary manslaughter and vehicular homicide by a Clark County jury in May. He was sentenced to 9 to 13.5 years in prison with credit for time already served.

Nathan Clark, Aiden’s father, alleges politicians are using his son’s name and death for political gain this election season.

Mr. Clark said Aiden, who was 11 at the time, was not murdered but was accidentally killed. He also emphasized that the last thing his family wants is to continuously relive the worst day of their lives.

Joseph was found by investigators to only have a state ID card and a Mexico driver’s license at the time of the crash. He said that because he lives in the U.S. under temporary protected status for Haitians he did not have the proper documents to get his Ohio driver’s license. He also claimed the sun was in his eyes, causing him to drift into the opposite lane and strike the school bus.


Related: Ohio School Bus Fatality Prompts Latest Legislation Pushing Seatbelt Requirement
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Related: (STN Podcast E196) Safety Envelope: Ohio Safety Group Findings, Seatbelts & Technology

The post Parents of 11-Year-Old Speak Out About Politicization of Ohio School Bus Death appeared first on School Transportation News.

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