The rollover of a school bus north of Dallas, Texas, killed one student and resulted in minor injuries to the driver and three other students. The incident renews the scrutiny over a new Texas law expanding requirements for lap/shoulder seatbelts on school buses operated by or contracted for state districts.

According to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS), a Sanger Independent School District school bus was involved in a single-vehicle crash Thursday afternoon that resulted in the death of a 13-year-old student.

At approximately 4:55 p.m. Sept. 24, DPS troopers responded to the crash in unincorporated Denton County north of Dallas. Preliminary information indicates the school bus was traveling northbound. Editor’s note—Viewer discretion advised. Dashcam video obtained by local news station WFAA shows the school bus veer off the roadway, strike a culvert and begin to roll over. Initial DPS information corroborates that sequence of events.

Reasons for the school bus veering off the roadway have not been disclosed at this writing.

The bus driver, 38-year-old Jesse Padgett of Sanger, Texas, and three students were treated at the scene for minor injuries. A fourth student, a 13-year-old, whose name was not provided at this writing, was transported by ambulance to a local hospital, where the student later died from injuries sustained in the crash.

Sanger ISD confirmed with School Transportation News that the bus driver and four students were on board the bus at the time of the accident. The district said it is working with law enforcement and emergency personnel and will share additional information when appropriate.

Texas has required three-point, lap/shoulder seatbelts on all new school buses and for students to wear them since 2007. A new law removes the previous blanket exemption for model-year 2017 and older buses and expands the three-point seat belt requirement to older buses still in service. Districts are not required to comply with the expanded requirement before Sept. 1, 2029, although the law retains exceptions based on district budget limitations and vehicle warranties.

It also directs ISDs to report to the Texas Education Agency the number of school buses with lap/shoulder seatbelts, with two-point lap belts, or no seatbelts at all. ISDs will also need to provide the estimated cost of equipping the school buses in their fleets that do not have lap/shoulder seatbelts, including how much it will cost to retrofit existing school buses to three-point belts or replace the buses with new models equipped with the seatbelts. Sanger ISD district website currently lists 35 total school buses in its fleet.

WFAA also reported Thursday evening that Sanger ISD said only 15 of its 29 school buses had the seatbelts as of earlier this year, with 10 of those buses having no seatbelts at all and four not having the type of seatbelts required. The local news station reported that Sanger ISD asked the state for an exception, as it would cost $500,000 to fully install the occupant restraints throughout the fleet. Local voters did not approve a district-wide bond that included $1 million for new school bus purchases.

STN asked Sanger ISD if seatbelts were installed on the school bus that rolled over, but the school district did not address that question.

The investigation remains ongoing, and DPS said no additional information was available at this report. STN will provide updates as more details are released.

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A 7-year-old Cincinnati Public Schools student with special needs died while riding a school bus, and her family is seeking answers about what occurred during the approximately 90-minute trip home.

Ngone Talla, a Roselawn Condon School student, was nonverbal with developmental disabilities and rode the school bus in a wheelchair. Her father, Abdoula Talla, told local media that Ngone appeared healthy and happy when she went to school Wednesday morning.

Cincinnati Public Schools confirmed in a statement provided to School Transportation News that Ngone died later that day while on her school bus.

“Our hearts remain with her family and everyone who knew and loved her,” the district stated. “This is an unimaginable loss for them and a heartbreaking time for the entire CPS community, and especially those at her school.”

Ngone’s family said the bus arrived late at their Northside home at approximately 5 p.m. Abdoula said home surveillance video showed the bus remaining outside for 10 to 15 minutes before its wheelchair ramp was lowered.

Ngone’s 12-year-old sister, Marema Talla, reportedly went outside after her mother told her the school bus had arrived. She said a bus employee eventually invited family members on board, where they found Ngone motionless in her wheelchair.

Marema told local media that Ngone’s lips appeared dry, cut and bleeding, and that she could not detect a pulse or breathing. She said an bus attendant told her something had been coming from Ngone’s mouth before she became still.

Authorities have not confirmed that account or said when during the ride Ngone became unresponsive.

Abdoula said his wife and children called him after discovering that Ngone was not breathing. He said he called 911 while rushing home. Ngone was transported to Cincinnati Children’s Hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

The family is questioning why emergency responders were not called before the bus reached their home. Investigators have not said if district transportation staff or other students on school bus knew Ngone was in distress during the route or whether earlier intervention could have affected the outcome.

Substitute Monitor Working the Day of Fatality

Abdoula said the school bus route typically had a driver and an attendant responsible for monitoring students. He said the attendant working Wednesday was not Ngone’s regular attendant.

First Student, which operated the bus, stated in an email to STN that it is cooperating with local authorities and the school district.

“We are deeply saddened by the death of a student in Cincinnati and are fully cooperating with local authorities and the school district on conducting a thorough investigation,” the company stated.

First Student declined to answer questions about when employees noticed Ngone was unresponsive, whether they contacted emergency services and whether the attendant was a substitute. The company cited the active investigation.

The Cincinnati Police Department also confirmed in an email to STN that it is conducting a death investigation but declined to release additional information because the investigation remains ongoing.

The Hamilton County Coroner’s Office has not publicly announced Ngone’s cause or manner of death.

Ngone’s family remembered her as funny, energetic and loving. Abdoula said he had communicated with her teacher earlier Wednesday and was told his daughter was having a good day.

“I just want to know the truth,” he said. “She’s a lovely baby, and I just want to know the truth.”

Cincinnati Public Schools said its Crisis Response Unit has been supporting students and employees at Roselawn Condon School and throughout the district.

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A Broward County Public Schools bus driver died after another district school bus struck him at a transportation lot in Pompano Beach, Florida.

Alfred Desmandes, 69, was walking across the school bus parking lot shortly before sunrise Sept. 9, when he was struck by a bus driven by Steven Becker, 68. The collision occurred at approximately 5:29 a.m. at 2251 N.W. 18th St., according to a sheriff’s office traffic homicide report.

Investigators said the school bus had been positioned at the fuel pumps on the east side of the transportation building. Becker was leaving the pumps when he made a U-turn and began traveling west through the parking lot.

At the same time, Desmandes was walking southwest toward the building. Becker told detectives that he did not see Desmandes crossing the parking lot because the lot’s lights were not illuminated, the report states.

The sheriff’s office said its investigation showed that Desmandes crossed into the path of the school bus and was struck by the front driver’s side of the vehicle.

Pompano Beach Fire Rescue responded to the transportation lot and transported Desmandes to Broward Health North Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. A day later, the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office notified traffic homicide detectives that Desmandes had died at the hospital.

The sheriff’s office stated that neither excessive speed nor impairment is considered a contributing factor in the crash. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not announced any charges.

The agency has not said why the parking lot lights were not illuminated or whether investigators consider the lighting conditions a contributing factor. The traffic homicide report attributes the information about the lights to Becker’s statement to detectives.

Desmandes was reportedly a relief bus operator assigned to Broward County Public Schools’ north transportation operation. His son, Kendrick Desmandes, told local media that his father had worked as a school bus driver for more than 30 years.

Kendrick Desmandes questioned why the transportation lot was dark at the time of the collision and said he believed his father’s death could have been prevented. Desmandes’ cousin, Lundy Accime, also told local media that the family was devastated and wanted accountability for what happened while Desmandes was at work.

Following the collision, Broward County Public Schools reportedly stated that the driver involved would be reassigned from driving duties while the investigation continued.

School Transportation News contacted Broward County Public Schools and the district’s transportation department to request additional information about the lighting conditions, whether any problems had previously been reported and whether the district is reviewing its pedestrian-safety procedures. The district had not responded as of this report.

In a statement provided to local media, Superintendent Howard Hepburn said district personnel were cooperating with the sheriff’s office and that crisis counselors were available to support employees and others grieving Desmandes’ death.

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A 6-year-old elementary school student died after her school bus struck her moments after she disembarked in a residential Frankfort neighborhood.

The Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed to School Transportation News that the child was identified as Jenna Menias. She was pronounced dead Tuesday at 4 p.m.

Menias had reportedly just exited the school bus near her family’s home when she was struck by the same bus, her mother, Yvette Menias, told local media. The article added that it was not the route’s usual bus driver. Police have not confirmed that sequence of events.

In a news release, the Frankfort Police Department said officers were dispatched at approximately 3:24 p.m. for a traffic collision involving a school bus and a juvenile pedestrian.

Officers arrived and found Menias unresponsive with serious injuries caused by the collision, the release states. Witnesses and first responders immediately administered CPR and other lifesaving measures at the scene.

An ambulance transported Menias to a local hospital for treatment, where she was later pronounced dead, according to police.

Several other passengers were aboard the school bus when the collision occurred. Police said no additional injuries resulted from the crash, and arrangements were made to safely reunite the other passengers with their families.

Frankfort School District 157-C confirmed in a Sept. 9 statement provided to STN that Menias was a student at Grand Prairie Elementary School.

“It is with profound sadness that we share that our school community has experienced an unimaginable loss,” the district stated. “Tragically, the bus accident that occurred yesterday has resulted in the passing of one of our Grand Prairie Elementary students.”

The district extended its condolences to Menias’ family and friends, saying the entire District 157-C community was devastated and mourning alongside them.

District officials said schools remained open Wednesday to receive students and employees as they processed Menias’ death together. Additional support resources were made available throughout the district, including social workers, psychologists, and other trained personnel.

The district added that more mental health professionals would be available as needed to offer individual assistance to students and staff experiencing grief, anxiety, or other emotions related to the collision.

“Our hearts remain with the student’s family, friends, classmates, teachers, and all those who have been affected by this tremendous loss,” the district stated.

Police described Menias’ death as a tragedy with far-reaching effects on the community.

“This tragic incident has had a profound impact on those involved, their families, and our community,” the department stated. “We extend our deepest sympathies to everyone affected by this heartbreaking event.”

Police also asked the community and media to respect the privacy of those involved and allow their families time and compassion during the period of grief.

Authorities have not said what happened immediately before the collision. The police release did not identify the bus driver. No charges have been announced at the time of this writing.

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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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A Mount Vernon School District bus driver died after suffering a medical emergency at a student pickup location in Mitchell, South Dakota.

Dean Deinert, 66, died Aug. 26 after experiencing the medical emergency at the Davison County Fairgrounds, also known as the 4-H grounds. According to his obituary, Deinert died unexpectedly from a heart attack.

Davison County Sheriff Steve Harr told School Transportation News that a call came in at approximately 7:29 a.m. reporting that a bus driver was unconscious and not breathing well.

Mitchell Emergency Medical Services, the Mitchell Police Department and the Davison County Sheriff’s Office responded to the fairgrounds, which serves as a Mount Vernon School District pickup point for students from Mitchell.

An off-duty nurse performed lifesaving measures at the scene until paramedics arrived, Harr said. Deinert was transported by ambulance to Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell, where he later died.

Harr added that there was nothing suspicious about the incident.

The school district initially informed families that morning of the incident. The district said all students were safe, and another driver was able to take over the bus and transport them to school.

Counselors were also made available at school for anyone who needed support.

Following Deinert’s death, the district sent age-specific resources home with students who rode the Mitchell bus. The materials provided guidance for families on discussing the medical emergency with children, recognizing possible emotional and behavioral reactions, and determining when additional support might be necessary.

The guides indicated that students witnessed the emergency and sought help from adults. They emphasized that the children acted appropriately by getting adults, who performed CPR.

The district later shared the resources on social media, saying they could also be helpful for students who did not ride the bus that evening.

School Transportation News reached out to the Mount Vernon School District for additional information but did not receive a response as of this writing.

Deinert had only recently started driving a school bus at the beginning of the school year, according to his obituary. A lifelong resident of Mount Vernon community, he graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1978.

He spent 38 years as an over-the-road truck driver before beginning work at the Mount Vernon Farmers Elevator in 2017. Deinert continued working there until his death and had planned to retire Nov. 1.

The obituary described Deinert as a familiar and well-known member of the Mount Vernon community who was devoted to his family, especially his seven grandchildren.

Deinert is survived by his wife, Donna; his children and stepchildren; his mother; six brothers; seven grandchildren; and other relatives.

The district announced that the Tom Young Community Center would be closed Aug. 29 and Aug. 30 for preparations and services honoring Deinert.

A celebration of his life was held Aug. 30 at the community center, with a private burial planned for a later date at Emsley Cemetery in Ethan, South Dakota.

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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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A Montgomery County Public Schools bus driver cited in connection with crash last fall that killed an 11-year-old bicyclist has paid a fine rather than proceed to trial, reported WUSA 9.

According to the news report, Ivan Rivas, 55, accepted a negligent driving charge Thursday and agreed to pay a $390 fine. The disposition also adds three points to his driver’s license. Rivas had been scheduled for a nonjury trial.

The charge reportedly accused Rivas of driving in a careless and imprudent manner that endangered property, life and people. It was filed in February following the death of Summer Lim, a student at Earle B. Wood Middle School.

Summer was reportedly riding her bicycle on a sidewalk shortly before 3:15 p.m. on Oct. 9. As she attempted to cross the road, the school bus driven by Rivas was already turning through the intersection.

Investigators determined that both Rivas and Summer each contributed to the circumstances that led to the crash. Officials said Summer entered the crosswalk after the bus had begun moving through it.

Rivas reportedly stopped after the collision but then traveled nearly 30 additional feet before bringing the bus to a complete stop. Summer was found near the rear of the bus.

Police said Rivas had driven the same school bus route for more than 15 years before the fatal crash. Information about his current employment status with Montgomery County Public Schools was not provided. No additional charges against Rivas were reported.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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A longtime mechanic was killed after the school bus he was repairing rolled and crushed him inside a Westmoreland County bus garage, reported CBS News.
According to the news report, Barry Barker was working on a school bus at the Lodestar Bus Lines garage in New Florence Borough when the incident occurred July 2 at approximately 9:30 a.m.

Pennsylvania State Police Trooper Steve Limani said emergency responders were dispatched around 9:35 a.m. after an employee reported the unresponsive mechanic inside the garage.

“An employee at a bus garage … said they had a mechanic that was lying inside the garage, that [he] was unresponsive, and it appears he may have had an incident where a bus drove over him,” Limani said.

Investigators reportedly said Barker had been repairing a school bus that was experiencing brake problems. Police located cutting tools near Barker that appeared to have been used during the repair, though investigators have not yet determined exactly what caused the bus to begin moving.

The bus reportedly rolled over Barker before slowly traveling across 13th Street and coming to rest in a nearby yard. Authorities said the incident appears to have been accidental.

“It just seems like a horrific tragedy and a pure accident,” Limani said via the article. “From my understanding, he has been a mechanic for quite a long time, and he has been at that garage for an extended period of time.” He added that investigators currently have no reason to believe foul play or any criminal activity was involved.

The Westmoreland County Coroner’s Office identified Barker and said the cause and manner of death remain pending following an autopsy and toxicology testing. State police continue to investigate how the school bus began moving while Barker was working underneath it.

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A 7-year-old girl was fatally struck by a school bus July 8 while crossing a street in Monsey, New York.

Officers responded at approximately 9 a.m. to a report of a child struck by a school bus in front of 182 Blauvelt Road. The girl, a Monsey resident, was pronounced dead at the scene. Police have not released her identity. But the Monsey Scoop reported the girl’s name as Blima Weber.

According to a police news release, the bus was being operated by a 28-year-old Monsey resident and was a full-size yellow school bus operated by Yeshiva Viznitz. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.

Police said the driver was screened for alcohol and drugs and showed no signs of impairment. Preliminary findings also indicate speed was not a contributing factor in the crash. No criminal charges are pending against the driver at this time, though the investigation remains active.

The Town of Ramapo Police Department’s Crash Investigation Unit is continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.

This marks the fourth student fatality involving a school bus in New York during the 2025–2026 school year, according to School Transportation News data

Authorities have not said whether the bus was transporting students at the time of the collision, how many passengers may have been aboard, or whether it was actively loading or unloading students. Police have not released information about whether onboard camera footage is being reviewed. STN requested more information but received no response at the time of this report.

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A Maryland man has been convicted of criminally negligent manslaughter in a 2024 distracted driving crash that forced a teenager’s vehicle into the path of a school bus, killing one and injuring another, reported CBS News.

John Anthony Gaeta, 40, was found guilty following a trial in Harford County Circuit Court. Prosecutors said via the article that evidence showed Gaeta was distracted and failed to take any action to avoid the Sept. 18, 2024, collision that led to the death of 16-year-old Blake Elliot.

According to the news report, 17-year-old Zachary Griffin had stopped on northbound Route 543 to make a left turn onto Crescent Knoll Drive, when Gaeta’s vehicle struck the rear of Griffin’s car. The impact forced Griffin’s vehicle into the southbound lanes, where it was struck by an oncoming school bus.

Griffin reportedly suffered life-threatening injuries and was flown to the R Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center in Baltimore, where he spent 11 days recovering. Elliot, who was riding in the passenger seat, was transported by ambulance to University of Maryland Upper Chesapeake Health but died shortly after arriving.

Investigators with the Harford County Sheriff’s Office Crash Team determined that Gaeta never applied his brakes before the collision. A forensic examination of his vehicle’s airbag control module reportedly showed that during the five seconds before impact, he neither braked nor attempted to steer away.

Prosecutors said via the report that the data indicated Gaeta traveled approximately 371 feet while slowing only from 53 mph to 47 mph. Investigators also found his cellphone was unlocked and illuminated at the time of the crash. According to evidence presented at trial, Gaeta had been using several mobile applications, including Her A.I., Instagram and Chess.com, during his drive until about 38 seconds before the collision.

“Distracted driving, especially with the continuing evolution of technology in our society, is incredibly dangerous,” Harford County State’s Attorney Alison Healey said via the news report. “When the evidence of an investigation of a collision demonstrates the significant amount of negligence and distraction in which this Defendant engaged and a life is taken, those offenders will be held accountable in Harford County because that is a choice to put our community at risk, and it will not be tolerated.”

Healey also called for tougher penalties in distracted driving cases resulting in death, saying current Maryland law does not provide sufficient sanctions or adequately distinguish felony and misdemeanor offenses.

Gaeta faces a maximum sentence of three years in prison and/or a $5,000 fine. His sentencing is scheduled for Aug. 17.

Written with the assistance of AI.

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