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West Virginia School Bus Driver Accused of DUI, Accepts Guilty Plea

A Calhoun County Schools bus driver who was accused of DUI after being involved in a rollover crash accepted a guilty plea agreement, reported WSAZ 3.

The incident reportedly occurred March 4 at approximately 6 p.m., when 54-year-old Jeffrey Brannon was transporting 19 students on Route 16. He ran off the road and struck a culvert, causing the school bus to tip over.

The article states that students on board the bus ranged in ages from 11 to 18. Three students suffered serious injuries. Two of the victims were air lifted from the scene, but their injuries were not considered to be life-threatening. Their current condition is unclear at this time. All other students were taken to local hospitals, where they were treated and released.

Brannon was arrested for driving under the influence of alcohol and child neglect. A preliminary breath test at the scene showed he had .161 percent blood alcohol level, which is  four times the legal limit for a commercial driver. Brannon’s bond was set at $250,000 and the first preliminary hearing was held March 14.

Calhoun County Schools Superintendent Michael Fitzwater told local media that all applicable laws will be followed and that Brannon will never operate another school bus.

In the Citrus Court of Calhoun County, Brannon entered a guilty plea April 10 to three counts of DUI causing serious bodily injury and 16 counts of child neglect, creating risk of serious bodily injury.


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Related: Massachusetts School Van Driver Faces DUI, Child Endangerment Charges

The post West Virginia School Bus Driver Accused of DUI, Accepts Guilty Plea appeared first on School Transportation News.

Three-Vehicle Crash Involving School Buses Leaves Seven Injured

Two Camden County School District school buses and one car were involved in a crash that left seven injured in North Carolina.

The incident occurred March 7, when a teen motorist was driving a 2013 Hyundai Sonata and traveling westbound on Scotland Road alongside one of the buses. The second bus was traveling eastbound on the same road, according to a statement released by the district.

The teen motorist, who was not identified at this writing, crossed the center line and collided with the eastbound bus, causing the bus to then crash into the westbound bus.

Both bus drivers, the motorist and four children were injured during the crash. They were all transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

According to local news reports, the teen was charged with failure to maintain lane control.


Related: Over a Dozen Injured in a New Jersey School Bus Crash
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Related: Six Students Hospitalized in Massachusetts School Bus Crash
Related: Minnesota School Bus Driver Hailed Hero for Avoiding Head-On Crash With Semi

The post Three-Vehicle Crash Involving School Buses Leaves Seven Injured appeared first on School Transportation News.

New York School Bus Crash Leaves One Dead, Others Injured

A school bus driver is dead after a crash involving two school buses in New York.

The Oneida County Sheriff’s Office released a statement March 7 confirming the fatal crash between two Holland Patent School District school buses.

According to the statement, one of the school buses operated by Michael J. Page, 57, was transporting three students when he crossed the center line into the path of an oncoming school bus for the same district.

The second bus, operated by Jean C. Marsden, 58, was transporting two students in the second Holland Patent School District school bus.

Marsden was pronounced dead at the scene. The two students on her bus were transported to Wynn Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. Page was also transported to the hospital for a foot injury, and the three students on his bus were all evaluated at the scene before being signed over to their parents.

The crash is still under investigation. But authorities indicated the weather conditions of wind-blown snow appeared to be a factor.


Related: New York Mother and Child Struck by School Bus Following Drop-Off
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Related: Motorist Dead After Colliding with Ohio School Bus During Drop Off

The post New York School Bus Crash Leaves One Dead, Others Injured appeared first on School Transportation News.

Metal Bar Flies Through Windshield, Strikes Washington School Bus Driver

School bus drivers are trained to not only keep calm with student riders but also when a piece of metal pierces their windshield during a route.

That is exactly what happened to Stewart O’Leary, a school bus driver for Northshore School District in Washington, on Feb. 7. As he drove a sports team down the freeway, a metal pole shattered his windshield and struck him in the chest. The school district released a statement on the incident.

O’Leary is being recognized as a hero for prioritizing the safety of the students on board his bus and remaining calm and collect after being hit and despite the resulting pain. Thanks to his quick thinking and the swift actions of North Creek coaches Calvin McHenry and Chris Pinder, who were also on board, the bus was safely brought to a stop and all passengers remained injured.

O’Leary was taken to the hospital on the day of the incident and released that same night. The following Monday he was back at work, continuing to serve students. The district thanked O’Leary for his heroic actions and bravery.

According to local news, Washington State Patrol troopers have not been able to determine where the metal bar came from.


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Related: Colorado School Bus Driver Hailed Hero After Fire
Related: Teens Hailed Heroes in Kentucky School Bus Crash

The post Metal Bar Flies Through Windshield, Strikes Washington School Bus Driver appeared first on School Transportation News.

Wisconsin School Bus Driver Saves Girl from Choking

The family of a girl who was saved by her school bus driver on Jan. 10 spoke out about the experience, reported WKOW News.

The incident reportedly occurred hen 9-year-old Cathryn Dornacker was on board an Adams-Friendship School District bus and accidentally began choking on part of her bracelet while on her way home from school.

According to the news report, the driver, Jamie Smoczyk, stopped the bus and jumped into action by performing the Heimlich Maneuver on Dornacker.

Dornacker told local news reporters that she was making a bracelet with the “C” clip when the bus stopped, and she accidentally swallowed it.

In a surveillance video recovered from the bus, Dornacker’s brother Jonathan, is seen yelling at Smoczyk that his sister needs held. He told local news reporters that his sister’s face was turning red, and she fell on the ground right before Smoczyk heard his screams and quickly came to aid the child.

Despite the traumatic experience, Dornacker’s parents were grateful for the school bus driver’s heroic actions.


Related: Georgia School Bus Driver Named “Hidden Hero” After Saving Student’s Life
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Related: Teens Hailed Heroes in Kentucky School Bus Crash
Related: Louisiana School Bus Driver Hailed Hero

The post Wisconsin School Bus Driver Saves Girl from Choking appeared first on School Transportation News.

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