Authorities are seeking the driver of a pickup truck that struck two 16-year-old students with its side mirror as they waited to board a school bus, reported WCVB News.

Carver police said via the news report that the students, who attend Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School in Rochester in Massachusetts, were injured Thursday when a dark-colored pickup truck passed their bus stop. The driver fled the scene, and investigators are asking the public for information that could help identify the vehicle or the person behind the wheel.

According to the article, the school bus was approaching the stop with its yellow warning lights flashing when the truck struck the teenagers. Police described the pickup as having LED lights.

Officers were reportedly notified of the incident at approximately 7:20 a.m. by Old Colony Bus Company. The authorities asked anyone who was in the Forest Street area around 6 a.m. to contact investigators.

One student was taken right after the incident to a hospital by a family member, received treatment, and was released. Family members took the second student to a hospital later in the day for treatment. Both teenagers are expected to recover, and the extent of the injuries were not disclosed.

Aaron Polansky, superintendent-director of Old Colony Regional Vocational Technical High School, said the school had contacted the students’ families following the collision.

“We have reached out to the families of the injured students,” Polansky told local news reporters. “We are keeping both students and their families in our thoughts and wish them a fast and full recovery.”

Polansky also urged community members to help investigators locate the driver. “We encourage members of the community to assist the Carver Police Department with their investigation in any way possible,” he said.

The description released by investigators identifies the truck’s dark color and LED lights. Police are asking people with information about the vehicle to share it as they work to identify the driver.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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A 13-year-old student is facing an assault charge after she allegedly punched a Guilford County Schools bus driver in the head while the driver was picking up students, reported FOX 8.

The incident reportedly occurred Monday morning as the 59-year-old driver was operating a route serving Southwest Guilford Middle School in High Point, North Carolina.

High Point police officers received a report at approximately 7:35 a.m. that a school bus driver had been assaulted at a bus stop on Brentwood Street. A school resource officer responded and met with the bus driver to investigate the report.

The driver told the officer that she had stopped the bus to pick up several students, when one of the students began punching her in the head.

The driver reportedly sustained minor visible injuries during the alleged assault and told the officer that she planned to seek medical treatment. Police said they did not have additional information regarding her condition following the incident.

The school resource officer subsequently filed a juvenile petition for assault against the student. Authorities also obtained a secure custody order for the 13-year-old girl. Because the suspect is a juvenile, police did not release her name.

In North Carolina’s juvenile justice system, a secure custody order allows a juvenile to be temporarily held in a secure facility under circumstances established by state law while the case proceeds. It was not immediately clear what reportedly led to the confrontation or whether other students were on board the bus when the alleged assault occurred. Authorities also did not say whether the bus route continued following the incident or whether another driver was assigned to transport the students.

Guilford County Schools and the High Point Police Department are investigating the incident.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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A 4-year-old student was dragged approximately 15 feet by a Cato-Meridian Central School District bus in New York after her backpack became caught in the door as the vehicle began moving, highlighting the importance of safety in the danger zone, especially as School Bus Safety Week approaches this month.

According to New York State Police the incident occurred Sept. 23. Investigators determined that the child’s backpack remained caught in the door after she exited the bus and that the driver traveled approximately 15 feet before realizing what had happened and stopping.

The student was not injured, State Police said.

Donna Cooper, the child’s grandmother and legal guardian, told local news reporters that she was waiting outside the family’s home on Follett Road when her granddaughter, Riley, arrived home from school.

Cooper said the bus doors closed after Riley stepped outside while her backpack was still caught inside. She and her husband ran after the bus and screamed for the driver to stop. The bus eventually stopped between their driveway and the next driveway, she said.

“The bus driver closes the door, catches her backpack in the door and then just drives right away, dragging her,” Cooper told the news outlet.

Cooper recalled watching Riley attempt to move forward before the bus pulled away.

“All I see is her face when the door closed,” Cooper said. “I’m watching it in slow motion and I can see her trying to step forward. But then the bus takes off and just the look on her face.”

Cooper said the driver briefly apologized but did not exit the bus to check on Riley. The family took the prekindergarten student to an urgent care facility, which confirmed that she had not been physically injured.

Riley’s grandfather called 911 and later met State Police at the school. State Police told School Transportation News that investigators reviewed video of the incident and spoke with those involved. The school district was notified and began its own administrative investigation.

“Following a review of the circumstances, no criminal charges will be filed,” State Police said. “The Cayuga County District Attorney’s Office also reviewed the incident and declined prosecution.”

The district has not publicly disclosed the driver’s employment status, citing restrictions on discussing individual personnel matters. Riley’s family told local reporters that the driver had not returned to the route following the incident.

In a statement provided to local news reporters, the district said student safety and well-being remain its highest priority. The district said it was reviewing the circumstances, cooperating with law enforcement and had procedures in place to prevent another occurrence.

“We remain deeply committed to ensuring every child arrives home safely each day,” the district stated.

STN contacted the district for its official statement and additional information about the driver’s status and the preventive procedures but did not receive a response as of publication.

Cooper questioned why school bus doors do not use sensors that prevent them from closing when an object is caught between them, similar to systems used on elevators and automatic doors. Several companies have displayed such technology at STN EXPO trade shows, though adoption is minimal.

“My main goal here is I want awareness brought to this,” Cooper said. “I mean, both my husband and I have done a lot of research online, and this happens a lot, way more than it should. And nobody’s talking about it.”

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A school bus driver was removed from a Massachusetts school district’s routes after reportedly throwing several empty liquor bottles from a bus window while transporting students Tuesday morning, reported Coastal ABC News.

Somerset Berkley Regional High School officials informed families that a motorist traveling behind the school bus saw several empty miniature liquor bottles, commonly known as “nips,” being thrown from a window during the morning pickup route. The witness reported the incident to the Somerset Police Department.

Police officers located and stopped the bus. The driver admitted discarding the bottles and cooperated with the ensuing investigation.

Authorities determined that the bottles belonged to the busdriver but had not been consumed Tuesday morning. Officials also said the driver was not impaired.

“SPD engaged with the driver, who cooperated with the investigation, and it was determined that the bottles were in her possession, but they were not consumed this morning, and she was not impaired in any way,” school officials stated via the article.

Fisher Bus, the district’s transportation contractor, dispatched a replacement bus following the police response. The 14 students on board the original bus were transferred and transported safely to Somerset Berkley Regional High School. No injuries were reported.

The school subsequently asked Fisher Bus not to assign the driver to any of the district’s transportation routes. Officials did not identify the driver or indicate whether she could face criminal charges or disciplinary action from the bus company.

“The presence of alcohol containers on a school bus, by anyone, is unacceptable,” the school stated via the news report. “Our students and families must have complete confidence in the people responsible for transporting them, and we take this matter very seriously.”

School officials also thanked the motorist who contacted authorities and the officers who responded. “We are grateful to the attentive community member who reported what they saw and to the Somerset Police Department for their swift response,” the district reportedly stated.

Additional information about the origin of the bottles and how long they had been aboard the bus was not immediately available.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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The South Dakota Highway Patrol is conducting a three-day School Bus Safety Outreach event to increase public awareness and reinforce safe driving practices around school buses statewide, reported KXGL News.

The initiative running Sept. 8-10 includes partnerships between state troopers and local school districts. Troopers are observing school bus routes and loading zones while monitoring whether motorists comply with South Dakota’s school bus stopping laws.

According to the news report, marked patrol vehicles are visible near school bus stops, loading areas and high-traffic routes where students board and exit buses. The increased presence is intended to remind drivers about their responsibilities, discourage dangerous behavior and help protect children traveling to and from school.

“School bus safety is a shared responsibility,” Highway Patrol Capt. Jon Stahl said via the article. “Our presence during these three days is meant to educate drivers, support school districts and reinforce that stopping for school buses isn’t optional, it’s essential for protecting children.”

As part of the outreach, troopers are following select school buses along their regular routes to observe how nearby motorists respond. They will also position marked patrol vehicles near loading zones to increase law enforcement visibility.

Additionally, troopers are conducting targeted safety operations to identify violations and encourage motorists to comply with school bus safety laws. The South Dakota Highway Patrol will provide safety reminders and information to community members and news media throughout the initiative.

Motorists should remain alert when approaching school buses and anticipate frequent stops, particularly during morning and afternoon travel times. Drivers should slow down around buses and watch carefully for students who may be walking near the roadway or crossing the street.

The South Dakota Highway Patrol also reminded motorists that they must stop when a school bus displays flashing red lights. Drivers should remain stopped until the lights are deactivated, and it is safe to continue traveling.

Officials said seemingly small actions behind the wheel, including reducing speed, avoiding distractions and stopping as required, can prevent potentially tragic incidents.

The outreach reflects the South Dakota Highway Patrol’s effort to work alongside school districts and communities to promote safer travel for students across the state at the beginning of the school year.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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An 11-year-old Connecticut student died Wednesday morning after his bicycle collided with a school bus in North Stonington.

Police identified the student as Torren O’Grady of North Stonington. The Sept. 2 collision occurred near the intersection of Old Colony and Pinecrest roads shortly before the start of the school day. The crash occurred less than a mile from North Stonington Elementary School.

According to a preliminary crash report released by Connecticut State Police, a Blue Bird school bus was traveling east on Old Colony Road at approximately 8:27 a.m. O’Grady was riding a mountain bike east behind the bus as both approached Pinecrest Road.

Old Colony Road traffic entering Pinecrest Road is controlled by a stop sign, the summary states. Police said the school bus made a left turn and entered the northbound lane of Pinecrest Road as O’Grady also entered the intersection.

O’Grady’s bicycle collided with the left front wheel and tire of the school bus, according to investigators. A “run-over event” subsequently occurred, and O’Grady sustained fatal injuries, police stated.

The preliminary summary identifies the bus driver as a 76-year-old Stonington resident. State police had not announced any charges or citations as of Friday.

The investigation remains active. Police asked anyone who witnessed the collision or has information related to it to contact Connecticut State Police Troop E in Montville at 860-848-6500.

O’Grady was a member of the Stonington Bears Youth Lacrosse and wore No. 49. The organization described him as a teammate, friend and member of a family extending far beyond the playing field.

The youth lacrosse organization asked area families, community members and local sports leagues to place lacrosse sticks outside their homes and leave their porch lights on in O’Grady’s memory.

“Let every porch light shine for Torren,” the organization stated. “Let every lacrosse stick remind his family that they are surrounded by a community standing beside them in love and support.”

The organization encouraged neighboring towns to participate in the tribute, writing, “From one field, one team and one collective community, we remember #49.”

Gov. Ned Lamont expressed condolences to O’Grady’s family, friends, classmates, teachers, and the North Stonington community. He said Connecticut State Police and the state Department of Education were prepared to support the schools and students affected by the death.

Lamont also urged drivers throughout Connecticut to exercise additional caution around school buses, school zones, bicyclists and children traveling to and from school.

“Slow down and help keep our students safe as they start this new school year,” Lamont stated.

State Rep. Greg Howard, whose district includes North Stonington, said he had communicated with local emergency services, law enforcement and the Connecticut Department of Education following the collision.

Howard said state resources were being made available to help North Stonington cope with the loss. He also thanked the first responders, firefighters, medical personnel, school and town officials, and law enforcement officers who responded to the scene.

“I know our community is hurting right now; but I also recognize the way in which North Stonington knows how to pull together,” Howard stated. “Please keep this family in your thoughts and let us all hold our loved ones a little closer tonight.”

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The Warren Police Department partnered with Fitzgerald Public Schools to collect classroom essentials for students during a “Stuff-A-Bus” school supply drive, reported C & G News.

The donations supported the second annual “Operation Back 2 School” event, which provides backpacks filled with supplies to students in preschool through 12th grade who may otherwise struggle to obtain the materials they need.

Community members reportedly donated backpacks, notebooks, crayons, pens, pencils, glue sticks and other supplies. Warren police officer Bryce Moon, the department’s community policing officer, said the initiative holds personal meaning for him.

“I know what it was like to struggle with (going) back to school, coming up myself,” Moon said via the article. “I’m in a position to help now, so I love to do it.”

Approximately 600 backpacks filled with school supplies were distributed to students last year. Organizers hoped to increase that number to about 1,000 backpacks this year, Moon told local news reporters

Fitzgerald Public Schools Superintendent Elizabeth Jensen said via the article that providing essential resources can help students begin the academic year with confidence and focus on learning. “If we can provide them safety and resources, then they know that they can come to school feeling confident and ready to start the first day and be the best learner they can be,” Jensen said.

Moon said the drive also demonstrates the value of cooperation between law enforcement and the community. “It just shows us the strong community ties,” he reportedly said. “It’s great when the community and police can come together and give back to the youth.”

Warren Mayor Lori Stone reportedly described the initiative as “community policing at its best,” adding that it strengthens relationships, builds trust and shows young people that the community supports their success.

Organizers continued accepting donations after the Stuff-A-Bus event. Supplies could be delivered to Fitzgerald High School or the district administration building at 23200 Ryan Road, Warren City Hall or the Warren Police Department.

Backpacks were scheduled to be distributed Aug. 23 at Fitzgerald High School. The family event was also set to feature demonstrations from the Warren police and fire departments, bounce houses and other activities.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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Police officers will ride on some school buses in a Middle Tennessee school district as part of a new effort to identify motorists who violate traffic laws near buses and put students at risk, reported WSMC News.

According to the news report, the Nolensville Police Department announced the initiative in collaboration with Williamson County Schools and the district’s transportation department. Officers will accompany students on selected bus routes and watch traffic around the vehicles during daily trips.

Police said the officers’ role will focus exclusively on unsafe driving outside the buses. They will not become involved in student behavior, school discipline, or other activities taking place aboard the vehicles.

“Our only purpose is to identify unsafe driving around school buses and help ensure that every student arrives at school and returns home safely,” Police Chief Dale Armour said via the news report.

Armour reminded drivers that they are required to stop when a school bus activates its flashing warning lights and extends its stop arm. Motorists must remain stopped while the signals are active. “A few moments of patience can prevent a tragedy,” Armour said.

The initiative is intended to give officers a direct view of motorists’ actions from inside school buses. By riding along with students, police will be positioned to observe traffic violations that occur as buses stop to pick up or unload children.

Police have reportedly not announced when the program will officially begin. The department also did not provide additional details about which routes will be selected, how frequently officers will ride, or how long it will continue.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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A 50-year-old Missouri man was charged with stealing a Liberty Public Schools (Kansas) bus after authorities said he broke into a district building, drove the vehicle to Independence and abandoned it as police closed in, reported KSHB News.

According to the news report, Clay County prosecutors charged Randolph L. Schmidt of St. James with second-degree burglary and stealing a motor vehicle. A judge set his bond at $75,000.

The theft reportedly began shortly after 7 p.m. Aug. 11 at the district’s Support Services Building. Schmidt entered the building and took a school bus. Members of the district’s safety team worked with Liberty police to review surveillance video from the building. Authorities then used the bus’s onboard GPS system to follow its movement.

The district said via the article that the bus was recovered within an hour of the break-in after a coordinated tracking by school safety officials and police.

About 50 minutes after the break-in was reported, Independence police received a call about a school bus being driven recklessly. The caller reported seeing the bus heading south at about 7:50 p.m. Officers reportedly located the bus near Hidden Valley Road in Independence. The vehicle had been abandoned by the time the police arrived.

Police searched the surrounding area and reportedly found Schmidt nearby. Officers took him into custody. Authorities did not provide details about its route, whether the bus was damaged or whether anyone was aboard when it was stolen. No injuries were reported. Officials also did not say how Schmidt gained entry. No initial court date was announced.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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A 17-year-old Gaffney High School student in South Carolina was fatally shot Wednesday morning as he was about to board a school bus, authorities said, leaving witnesses and the wider community shaken days after classes resumed.

The Cherokee County Coroner’s Office identified the student as Jomiltron Sentell Fair Jr., in a statement sent to School Transportation News. The shooting occurred near a bus stop in the 500 block of West Rutledge Avenue.

Fair left his apartment across the street and walked toward the bus stop at 6:49 a.m., the coroner’s office said. A male approached him as he prepared to board the bus, and a brief altercation followed. Fair was then shot and pronounced dead at the scene.

Surveillance video from the school bus showed the shooter fleeing to a nearby vehicle driven by another person, according to the coroner’s office. Fifteen students were on the bus and witnessed the shooting.

Authorities had not announced an arrest, identified a suspect, or disclosed a possible motive. Police have also not released a description of the shooter, the driver, or the vehicle.

In its initial public statement, the Gaffney Police Department described the location as an active crime scene and asked residents to avoid the area and use alternate routes. Police warned that additional law enforcement activity should be expected as officers continued their investigation.

The department said it is working closely with the school district to manage the response and protect students, school employees and the broader community.

“Due to the sensitive nature of the investigation, no additional details are being released at this time,” police said. The department added that more information would be provided when its release would not interfere with the investigation.

Cherokee County School District said authorities were actively handling the situation and that, based on available information, there was no current danger to schools or students. Schools continued operating with safety measures in place.

“We understand that incidents like this can be frightening for students, families, and staff,” the district said in a statement. It encouraged families to follow official district and law enforcement communications and avoid circulating unverified information.

Students in Cherokee County returned to classrooms Monday, two days before the shooting. Police Chief Gerald Knight said additional patrols would be assigned to the shooting location and schools across the area for the remainder of the week.

Gaffney Mayor Lyman Dawkins III said his heart was broken and offered his thoughts and prayers to Fair’s family, loved ones and others affected by the violence.

“Our community is hurting,  and this violence has to stop,” Dawkins said. “We ALL have a responsibility to keep fighting against it and do whatever it takes to protect our young people and one another.”

Dawkins said he was willing to work with anyone committed to finding solutions and warned young people that a single violent decision could permanently change two lives and two families.

The investigation remained active Wednesday. Officials did not say when they expected to release another update publicly.

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Police are urging drivers to slow down and families to review bus safety rules as Clarksville-Montgomery County students return to classrooms, reported Fox 17.

According to the news report, the Clarksville Police Department said many children will walk, bicycle, or ride school buses to school. Motorists should avoid distractions, watch for children crossing streets and obey school-zone speed limits, flashing lights and directions from crossing guards and officers.

Tennessee law reportedly requires drivers to stop when a school bus displays flashing red lights and extends its stop arm. On roads without a physical median, traffic in both directions must stop, including on multilane roads such as Tiny Town Road.

Painted lines and center turn lanes do not divide a road into separate roadways. Drivers must remain stopped until the lights stop flashing, the arm retracts and the bus moves again. Opposing traffic generally may proceed only when a physical median or space that vehicles cannot cross separates the roadways.

The article states that flashing yellow lights signals a bus is preparing to stop. Drivers should slow down and prepare to stop. Illegally passing a stopped school bus is a Class A misdemeanor. A first offense carries a fine of $250 to $1,000; later violations carry fines of $500 to $1,000. A driver who passes illegally and strikes someone could face a Class E felony. A fatal collision could result in a Class C felony.

The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration reportedly recommends children arrive at their stop five minutes early and wait 10 feet, or five giant steps, from the curb. They should not run, push, or play while waiting. Children should approach only after the bus stops, its door opens and the driver signals it is safe. They should use the handrail and never walk behind the bus.

To cross, children should move five steps in front of the bus, make eye contact with the driver, and look left, right and left again. If an item falls near the bus, children should step away and alert the driver rather than retrieve it. A driver may not see a child close to the vehicle.

Written with the Assistance of AI.

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California Highway Patrol officers will ride Turlock Unified School District buses next month as part of an enforcement operation targeting motorists who illegally pass stopped school buses.

The operation will take place Sept. 4 at multiple locations along district bus routes in the Turlock area, which is located about halfway between Sacramento and Fresno, CHP said in a press release sent to School Transportation News.

Officers riding as passengers will watch for motorists who fail to stop when a school bus has its red lights flashing and stop arm extended. The officers will communicate with nearby CHP patrol units to stop motorists observed illegally passing a bus. Violators may receive warnings or traffic citations.

The operation is funded by a grant originating from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration and administered by the California Office of Traffic Safety.

CHP said the operation is intended to educate motorists, parents and students about school bus pedestrian safety and reinforce state stopping requirements.

Drivers approaching a school bus from either direction must stop when its red lights are flashing, the agency reminded. Motorists must remain stopped while students enter or exit the bus and until children have safely crossed the street and the red lights stop flashing. Yellow flashing lights warn drivers to slow down and prepare to stop.

Motorists do not have to stop when a school bus is on the opposite side of a divided or multilane highway with at least two lanes in each direction, according to state law.

The agency also urged drivers to remain alert near school bus stops because children may act unpredictably or enter traffic without recognizing the danger. Motorists should reduce their speed and use additional caution around pedestrians, particularly in school zones before and after school.

Enforcement Also Targets Safe School Bus Ridership

CHP encouraged parents to make pedestrian and school bus safety part of their children’s routines. Students should arrive at their bus stop at least five minutes early and wait 10 feet from the road. Children who must cross a street to board should wait for the bus driver’s signal before proceeding.

Students also should not enter or leave a bus until the driver says it is safe, and they should never run after a bus they have missed. Running, games, pushing, and shoving should be avoided at bus stops.

When sidewalks are available, children should use them, CHP said. Where no sidewalk exists, students should walk single file, face approaching traffic and remain on the shoulder as far off the road as possible.

Children should look to the right before stepping off a bus because some motorists may attempt to pass on that side. Before crossing a street, students should stop and look left, right and left again. Crossings should be made at corners, crosswalks, or intersections whenever possible, where motorists are more likely to expect pedestrians.

“Traffic safety is everyone’s responsibility,” CHP said in the release, adding that the agency is committed to helping keep the community safe and urging residents to follow traffic laws.

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A 23-year-old man was arrested after authorities said he recklessly drove an unregistered yellow school bus in southwest Miami-Dade County without a commercial driver’s license, reported Local 10.

According to the news report, Miami-Dade Sheriff’s Office deputies responded at about 3:14 p.m. Saturday tfollowing reports of a school bus being driven recklessly.

Deputies later located the school bus and identified the driver as Erick Anthony Moore, the report states. Moore was reportedly unable to provide information identifying the owner of the bus.

A records check reportedly showed that Moore’s regular driver’s license was suspended and that he had never been issued a CDL. Authorities also determined that the school bus was not registered. Additionally, deputies learned that Moore might have an active fugitive warrant. It was later confirmed that the warrant was active. Details about the out-of-county warrant, including the jurisdiction that issued it and the underlying allegations, were not immediately available.

Moore was taken into custody and issued traffic citations. He was arrested on charges of driving with a suspended license, operating a commercial vehicle without a commercial driver’s license, and operating an unregistered vehicle. He was transported to the Turner Guilford Knight Correctional Center in Miami-Dade County.

Online jail records reportedly indicated that Moore was granted an $800 bond on the charges stemming from the school bus incident. However, he remained in custody without bond because of the out-of-county warrant. It is unclear whether any passengers were aboard the bus, where Moore obtained the vehicle or whether it was affiliated with a school district or transportation provider. Information about Moore’s next scheduled court appearance and whether he had retained an attorney was not immediately available.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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