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.

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.

An Orange Unified School District school bus in Southern California was involved in a crash with a SUV that resulted in hospitalization for the victims but they are expected to recover.

Michael L. Christensen, superintendent of Orange Unified School District (OUSD), released a statement saying that two students and the school bus driver were onboard Monday at the time of the incident and have been transported to local hospitals.

The Orange County Fire Authority responded to the scene of the incident and stated that there three adults and two children sustained injuries. They were all transported in stable but serious condition. The California Highway Patrol is investigating the cause of the crash.

“Our hearts go out to our students, the driver, and their loved ones during this challenging time,” said Christensen. “We are deeply grateful to the first responders for their quick response and support, and we are working with the California Highway Patrol on their investigation.

Related: School Bus T-Bone Crash in Minnesota Injures 10 Students on Board
Related: In Case of an Emergency
Related: Indiana Motorist Makes Obscene Gesture to Stopped Bus

The post California School Bus Transporting Students with Special Needs Involved in Crash appeared first on School Transportation News.

School bus crashes are a concerning issue that requires close attention. Statistics show that these types of incidents occur more often than one might expect, with thousands of crashes reported each year across the United States.

Recent statistics compiled from various sources reveal an alarming trend of school bus crashes and school transportation-related traffic incidents over the last decade.

According to an analysis of National Highway Traffic Safety (NHTSA) data, Brumley Law Firm found that approximately 976 fatal school bus crashes led to over 1,000 deaths and around 132,000 injuries, spanning the years 2013 through 2022. States like Texas and Florida emerged as hotspots for these fatalities. Texas reported 75 school transportation-related crashes and 87 resulting fatalities, while Florida reported 74 crashes and 76 fatalities. The top five was rounded out be Georgia, which experienced 65 deaths in 60 crashes, New York with 59 deaths in as many crashes, and Pennsylvania with 59 deaths in 53 crashes.

Harris County, Texas and Kings County, New York experienced the most school-transportation related crashes between 2013-2022 with 11 each. Cook County, Illinois, Los Angeles County, California, and Maricopa County, Arizona each had nine crashes.

Approximately 111 people are killed and 13,200 people are injured in school bus incidents each year, according to NHTSA. However, statistics reveal that occupants of other vehicles are more likely to become fatally injured in a school bus crash, rather than the occupants of the school bus. Only 11 fatalities on average occur on the school bus, to students or their driver, compared to about 76 occupants in other vehicles. Of the 111 fatalities in the school bus, the NHTSA data indicates 61 were student passengers and 50 were school bus drivers.

Though the school bus itself provides a reliable, secure way for transporting students, NHTSA says it remains concerned about the lingering problem of illegal school bus passing by motorists, which undermines this safety net and demands concerted efforts.

Last month, NHTSA released its review of state laws on illegal passing. It also offers an online best-practices guide designed to help reduce the number of incidents. The National Association for State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services estimates that 45.2 million illegal passings occurred nationwide last school year.

Related: Florida School Bus Crashes After Motorist Runs Stop Sign
Related: West Virginia School Hosts Mock Bus Crash
Related: What Do School Bus Drivers Want to Increase Safety?
Related: North Carolina School Bus Crashes into Home

The post Fatality Data Analysis Indicates School Bus Safety in Comparison to Other Modes appeared first on School Transportation News.

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.

Related: West Virginia Teen Loses Leg After After School Bus Crash
Related: West Virginia Students Hospitalized After School Bus Crash
Related: Rhode Island School Bus Crash Leaves 8 Injured
Related: Iowa Crash Test Identifies Limits of Protection in School Bus Compartmentalization

The post West Virginia School Hosts Mock Bus Crash appeared first on School Transportation News.

A 64-year-old school bus driver from Michigan has been charged with allegedly fatally striking a 3-year-old girl in Hamtramck.

The Charter County of Wayne Michigan released a statement confirming that Marvin Lee Flentroy, a school bus driver for Hamtramck Public Schools, has been charged in connection with a car crash that killed a 3-year-old girl.

The incident reportedly occurred on July 16, when Flentroy was turning onto Burger Street and struck the child while she was crossing the street. First responders were called to scene and transported the child to a local hospital, where she later died.

Flentroy was arraigned on Oct. 10 and given a $10,000 personal bond. He was also ordered not to drive and has been since then charged with Reckless Driving Causing Death.

The case remains under investigation.

Related: School Bus Crash Leaves 2 Children Hospitalized, Bus Driver Dead
Related: Michigan School Bus Crash Results in Bus Driver, Students Injured
Related: Girl, 8, Killed by School Bus in Mississippi
Related: Louisiana 7-Year-Old Hit, Killed by School Bus

The post Michigan School Bus Driver Charged in Fatal Crash appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Teague Middle School student in Florida was injured on Friday, after a tree branch fell on the school bus and broke its window, reported Click Orlando.

The incident reportedly occurred when the school bus was making a right turn. A branch from a nearby tree broke and hit the back window .

A child that was on board the bus received a minor cut due to broken glass. The student was treated at the scene, no other injuries were reported.

Related: Deadly Hurricane Helene Closes Schools in Multiple States Amid Catastrophic Flooding
Related: Tropical Storm Debby Makes Landfall in Florida, Brings Heavy Rain
Related: Ohio Man Smashes School Bus Window
Related: Ohio Child Struck by Vehicle While Getting Off School Bus

That same Friday afternoon, a tree fell on an Ohio school bus with students on board, reported Fox 8.

West Chester Police said the tree that fell on the Lakota Local school bus also toppled electrical wires.

Students that were on the bus were kept inside the bus as a safety precaution, until crew from Duke Energy arrived at the scene and defused the situation.

No injuries were reported at the time of the incident.

The post Trees Fall on School Buses with Students on Board appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Madison County School District bus struck and ultimately killed a student riding her bicycle through an intersection.

The incident occurred Wednesday at approximately 4:20 p.m. during the afternoon commute about 13 miles north of Jackson, Mississippi. First responders immediately began providing medical assistance.

The Madison City Police Department declined to identify the girl, but local news reports said she was Jeanelle Fredericks, 8. She was transported to a local hospital in critical condition but died Wednesday evening.

Other students were on board the school bus at the time of the incident, but no other physical injuries were reported.

A police statement said the incident remained under investigation at this report, with results to be forwarded to the Madison/Rankin County District Attorney’s Office.

Meanwhile, the Madison County School District issued a statement about being “heartbroken at the loss of a precious student in a tragic accident.”

Counselors were available to students and staff at Madison Avenue Elementary School tarting Thursday and would be available “for days to come,” the district added.

Related: 15-year-old Shot and Killed While Getting Off School Bus in Georgia
Related: Teen Struck, Killed by Kentucky School Bus
Related: Ohio School Bus Fatality Prompts Latest Legislation Pushing Seatbelt Requirement
Related: NTSB Investigating Wisconsin Middle School Student Fatality at Bus Stop
Related: Florida Woman Convicted of 2021 Death of Girl at School Bus Stop

The post Girl, 8, Killed by School Bus in Mississippi appeared first on School Transportation News.

Dozens of students in New Prague, Minnesota, were left frightened after their school bus suddenly left the road and crashed into a corn field, reported CBS News.

The incident reportedly occurred the morning of. Sept. 16, when a school bus was transporting 50 New Prague students to school.

According to the news report, the driver had passed out behind the wheel causing the bus to crash into the cornfield. The driver, who was not identified at this writing, woke up as the bus went into a ditch. The bus ended up at least 30 yards into the field.

No injuries were reported at the time of the crash.

Rebecca Ausmus, the mother of one of the students onboard the bus, told local news reporters that staffing shortages can make it difficult for drivers to call out sick, but they believe drivers should be under less pressure and should have the opportunity to say if they are unable to come in.

The Scott County Sherrif’s Office stated that neither alcohol nor drugs are believed to be factors in the incident. The driver was taken to the hospital for a checkup.

The incident remains under investigation.

Related: Stolen School Bus Chased into Indiana Cornfield
Related: Four People Hospitalized Amid School Bus Crash Into House
Related: Minnesota School Bus Driver Arrested for Alleged DUI
Related: Minnesota School Bus Driver Admits to DUI After Crashing with Students Onboard

The post Minnesota School Bus Crashes into Corn Field Due to Driver Passing Out appeared first on School Transportation News.

A motorist, school bus driver and nearly two dozen students were injured on Thursday after a school bus was involved in a crash with another vehicle in St. Louis County, Minnesota.

The Minnesota State Patrol released a statement confirming a crash on Thursday between a St. Louis County School District school bus and a 2006 Toyota RAV4. The incident happened at the intersection of Highway 5 and Town Line Road, about 10 miles southeast of Hibbing in northern Minnesota.

According to authorities, the RAV4 driver sped through a stop sign and crashed into the school bus. The collision caused the school bus to roll over.

The crash report identified the driver of the RAV4 as a 19-year-old female, Svea Lynn Snickers. She sustained life-threatening injuries. The driver of the 2021 Blue Bird school bus was identified as a 52-year-old Shawn Allen Lindula. He was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

The bus was transporting 21 students at the time of the incident, said the Hibbing Fire Department in a statement. All passengers on the bus were able to exit the bus on their own. Still, 10 students were transported to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and the rest were transported to their destination by Shubat Transportation Co.

St. Louis County Sheriff Gordon Ramsay told local news reporters the vehicle “T-boned” the school bus, causing to roll onto its side.

Related: Mississippi Student Hailed a Hero After School Bus Crash
Related: Four-Vehicle Crash Involving Missouri School Bus Leaves Two Dead, Students Injured
Related: Minnesota School Bus Driver Admits to DUI After Crashing with Students Onboard
Related: Minnesota School Bus Driver Arrested for Alleged DUI

The post School Bus T-Bone Crash in Minnesota Injures 10 Students on Board appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Sumter County school bus in Florida crashed early Friday morning after a woman drove past a stop sign, reported ABC Action News.

The Florida Highway Patrol said a 68-year-old woman, whose name was not released at this writing, was driving a Ford Escort Wagon east on CR-222 around 8:35 a.m., when she failed to stop at a controlled intersection.

The Ford then reportedly entered the path of the school bus, which was being driven by a 50-year-old unidentified woman and caused the collision.

Fourteen middle and high school students were onboard the bus at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported, and they were released to their parents.

Both drivers were taken to local hospitals. The 68-year-old motorist reportedly had serious injuries, while the bus driver suffered minor injuries.

Related: Florida Woman Convicted of 2021 Death of Girl at School Bus Stop
Related: School Bus Driver Shortage Impacts Florida Districts
Related: Georgia Gov Signs Law Following Fatal Illegal Passing Incident
Related: (STN Podcast E220) The Future: Bus Garage Tech, Illegal Passing Survey, Radios for Safety

The post Florida School Bus Crashes After Motorist Runs Stop Sign appeared first on School Transportation News.

With schools starting up across the country, the National Transportation Safety Board brought together four panelists to discuss key safety considerations.

During a webinar on Aug. 21, NTSB staff highlighted pertinent safety recommendations and addressed crash investigations with the aim to educate listeners on safe transportation.

Topics emphasized during the webinar included occupant protection, school bus safety, equity, safety routes to school, pedestrian, bicyclist and e-scooter safety.

“Nearly 550,000 school buses are in operation in the U.S and every school today these buses transport more than 20 million students to and from school,” said Meg Sweeney, an NTSB project manager and accident investigator.

In 2021, she noted there were 42,939 total fatalities on our roadways, 108 of those occurring in school transportation related fatalities. Most of the fatalities were the occupants of other vehicles, while only eight occupants of school transportation vehicles such as large school buses were fatally injured in 2021.

This data supports the assertion that school buses are the safest mode of transportation for students during their school commute. This is due to bus driver training and federal vehicle  construction standards. Despite this, there are always ways in which safety can be improved, stated Sweeney.

Sweeny also shared how over the years NTSB investigated several crash investigations and issued several recommendations to improve school bus safety in various ways. These recommendations include vehicle design and technology, such as lane departure warning and prevention systems. Another recommendation is occupant protection, namely lap/shoulder seatbelts, and ways to use passenger safety restraint systems to keep children within the compartmentalization of high-back, cushioned seats on school buses.

Kristin Poland, NTSB’s deputy director of highway, also discussed occupant protection. She added that for students to maintain consciousness during a crash and be able to self-evacuate, they need to be belted so they better protect their heads.

Related: A New Safety Paradigm
Related: STN EXPO Panel Discusses Trends in School Bus Safety Technology
Related: (Free White Paper) Prep Your Bus Fleet for Rolling Back to School
Related: School is Back, So Are Safety Challenges

Another topic the panelists discussed was safety outside the bus.

“Children are more vulnerable when waiting at bus stops, loading or unloading,” said Brittany Rawlinson, a statistician and data and policy analyst for NTSB, adding that nearly all school-age pedestrian fatalities occurred during the hours when children would be transiting to and from school. NHTSA reported that nearly all school-age pedestrian fatalities from 2013 to 2022 occurred from 3 p.m. to 3:59 p.m. more than any other time.

NTHSA reported 198 school-age child fatalities in school transportation related crashes occurring from 2013 to 2022. About 1.5 times more of those fatalities occurred with pedestrians than occupants of school transportation vehicles, explained Rawlinson.

NTSB recommendations to government agencies and states include reducing speed limits that can increase the time available to motorists for reacting to hazards. Carpooling also  reduce the number of vehicles in the school zone, always crossing students in crosswalks when available, utilizing designated off-street drop off and pick up locations, and enforcing laws that require all vehicles to stop when red school bus lights are flashing or when stop sign is extended.

The webinar ended with statistics, explaining how emergency departments have reported 13,557 injuries related to e-scooters from 2020 and 2021 with 67 percent of the injuries being in the head due to not wearing a helmet. Analysis on how over half of the 55 percent of school age pedestrians killed in school transportation related traffic crashes from 2013 to 2022 were five to ten year olds. Lastly, case reporting on different crashes in which there has been fatalities, as well as the belief that there is an urgent need for better safety measures beyond the bus.

The post NTSB Addresses Back to School Safety in Recent Webinar appeared first on School Transportation News.

A family is displaced after a school bus crashed into their apartment, reported Action News 5.

The incident reportedly occurred Wednesday morning, when a Memphis-Shelby Couty Schools bus crashed into an apartment building off Homer Street. The driver was apparently experiencing a medical emergency and lost control of the vehicle.

According to the news report, Sandy Gramajo and her 15-year-old son Jose were both inside the apartment at the time of the crash. Fortunately, none of them were hurt.

The family moved to Memphis from Guatemala in search of a better life and have only been in the U.S. for five years. The family is now in need of assistance and a new home, after the bus left a huge hole in Gramajo’s bedroom. The impact of the vehicle was felt throughout the complex.

The Memphis Police said that two adults and two juveniles were taken to the hospital in non-critical condition.

Related: Procedures Not Followed, Tennessee Student Left on School Bus
Related: Tennessee Student Hurt, Driver Cited After Nearly Crashing School Bus into Home
Related: Four People Hospitalized Amid School Bus Crash Into House
Related: Illinois School Bus Crashes into Home

The post Tennessee School Bus Crashes Through Apartment appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Rome City Schools bus driver was honored after helping students during a crash, reported Fox 5.

The crash reportedly occurred on Aug. 9 along Highway 101. Police stated via the article that a woman driving a Nissan Versa drifted over the center line and hit the school bus, which was carrying Rome High school football players and coaches that were coming back from a scrimmage against Rockmart.

The driver of the Nissan, Jeyonna Jariah Underwood was charged with DUI, failure to maintain lane and DUI endangerment of child under the age of 14.

Due to impact, the school bus overturned and crashed into a power pole while the Nissan went down an embankment.

On Aug. 13, school bus driver Nakita Strickland was honored by the district for his quick thinking and “safety-first” mentality to get everyone off the bus safely.

Strickland reportedly received a standing ovation and a certificate for his exemplary service.

Related: Georgia Woman Arrested Following Collision with School Bus
Related: Georgia Schools Mourns School Bus Driver
Related: Michigan School Bus Crash Results in Bus Driver, Students Injured
Related: Mississippi Student Hailed a Hero After School Bus Crash

The post Georgia School Bus Driver Honored for Helping Students After Crash appeared first on School Transportation News.

A Chisago County school bus driver admitted to being drunk when she crashed her school bus the morning of Feb. 15 with dozens of students onboard, reported StarTribune.

On Aug. 7 in district court, 60-year-old Kara Jean Ffrench pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor count of driving a commercial vehicle with a blood alcohol level of at least 0.04 percent, the maximum allowed BAC per federal commercial driver regulations.

The incident reportedly took place when Ffrench was transporting 45 Rush City students to school. About two-thirds were of elementary school age and the others in high school. No injuries were reported at the time of the incident.

Police arrived at the crash scene and saw the bus stuck on the edge of a cornfield after striking a basketball hoop. Ffrench tried to explain that she had trouble finding the brake and reportedly denied that she had been drinking.

Ffrench exited the bus holding a bottle of water and a coffee mug. The sergeant at the scene reportedly smelled the odor of alcohol coming from the mug.

The article states that a preliminary breath test administered by law enforcement at the scene measured Ffrench’s BAC at 0.199 percent. She later took additional tests at the County Jail less than two hours after the crash, which came back at 0.17 percent.

Sentencing for Ffrench is reportedly scheduled for Nov. 6.

Related: New Jersey School Bus Driver Arrested for DUI
Related: Florida School Bus Driver Arrested for Alleged DUI
Related: Minnesota School Bus Driver Runs Over Student’s Legs
Related: Minnesota Celebrates School Bus Driver Appreciation Day

The post Minnesota School Bus Driver Admits to DUI After Crashing with Students Onboard appeared first on School Transportation News.