A man was arrested over the weekend after authorities say he stole a school bus from a high school parking lot and later abandoned it at a nearby store, reported ABC 13.

According to the news report, officers responded Saturday afternoon to a Dollar General near Glasgow High School after school officials reported that the stolen bus had been located. The vehicle showed visible scratches on the rear-passenger side and front that appeared to be recent.

Glasgow Independent Schools Superintendent Chad Muhlenkamp said GPS data indicated the bus was started at approximately 4:34 a.m., left school property and traveled along Coral Hill Road before making a stop. The bus was later parked at the Dollar General around 5:27 a.m.

Security camera footage identified the suspect as 18-year-old Tayesean M. Barlow. The footage reportedly showed Barlow entering the bus with a flashlight and appearing to have what looked like a drum magazine attached to a handgun in his waistband. He was later seen sitting in the driver’s seat, starting the bus and driving away. Police said he briefly stopped to speak with someone out of view before continuing and eventually parking the bus.

According to the article, officers later went to Barlow’s home on Coral Hill Road, where his mother told them she was aware of the situation and had instructed her son to return the stolen bus. Barlow then came outside and was taken into custody.

While being held at the Barren County Detention Center, Barlow reportedly told police he had been with friends at a local apartment complex and decided to leave after “things got a little crazy.” He said he entered the bus after finding it unlocked, located the keys and drove it home because he did not want to walk.

Barlow remains jailed on a $25,000 cash bond. He faces charges including theft by unlawful taking, second-degree criminal mischief, unlawful possession of a weapon on school property, and operating a vehicle with a suspended or revoked license.

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A 78-year-old school bus monitor in South Carolina is charged with sex crimes involving a teenage girl who was riding his bus, reported The Augusta Press.

According to the news report, McDonald Walker of Aiken was charged Friday with criminal sexual conduct with a minor and criminal solicitation of a minor. The charges stem from an incident reported March 6 on a school bus.

Police stated a 14-year-old girl said she boarded the bus and took a seat when Walker approached her. “The bus monitor got up from his seat and went over to speak to her and then returned to his seat,” the report states. “The victim stated she began crying.”

Authorities reportedly said Walker allegedly made another comment to the teen girl as she was getting off the bus. Details of the alleged conduct were not immediately released, and officials said additional information is expected in formal warrants.

Aiken Public Safety Lt. Jennifer Hayes said investigators are working to obtain those warrants, which typically provide more specific descriptions of the allegations. Walker turned himself in to authorities Friday and was served with the warrants, Hayes said. He was later released after posting a $20,000 bond.

Officials have not released further details about the circumstances of the encounter or whether additional incidents are being investigated. It was also unclear if Aiken County Public Schools continued to employ the school bus monitor.

Records show Walker has previously been arrested multiple times in Aiken County. Past charges include domestic violence in 2017, 2018, and 2023, as well as violating an order of protection in 2018. He was also charged with assault and battery in 2017, a case that resulted in a sentence of 30 days in jail or a fine. The investigation remains ongoing.

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Authorities in Yellowstone County are investigating after a mother reported that a 6-year-old student brought a vape device onto a school bus in Shepherd, used it and shared it with other children, reported KTVQ News.

The mother, who requested anonymity to protect her daughter’s identity, said via the news report that her child admitted to trying the vape after another student brought it on board.

“She told me, ‘Mom, I have to be honest with you. Another kid on the bus had a vape,’” the mother said. “And I was like, ‘And you tried it?’ and she was like, ‘Yeah, I did.’”

The mother told local news reporters that she immediately contacted school officials after learning of the incident, which she said had occurred days earlier without the school’s knowledge. “The next morning, I went to the school and let them know,” she said. “They didn’t know anything, and this was now day three.”

According to the news report, the Shepherd School District notified the Yellowstone County Sheriff’s Office. Sheriff Mike Linder said a guardian of the child who brought the vape was initially cited for child endangerment, but that the citation has since been rescinded. The county attorney’s office is reviewing the case.

District officials reportedly declined to comment, citing the ongoing investigation.

The incident has raised concerns among parents about young children vaping. Caroline Joyce, executive director of Parents Against Vaping, said such cases, while rare, reflect a growing trend.

“Vaping is starting to reach more elementary school-aged children,” Joyce said via the article. “These products are widely available and appealing.”

Joyce said vaping poses serious health risks and criticized marketing practices, which target youth. “Six is incredibly alarming,” she said of the child’s age. “It’s an indication of systemic failures.”

She added that addressing the issue will require more than punishment, calling for broader education and prevention efforts.

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A Georgia mother said her young daughter was found walking alone along a highway after being dropped off at the wrong school bus stop, raising concerns about student transportation safety, reported WCTV News.

According to the news report, the incident occurred in Terrell County, where a kindergartner was supposed to be dropped off at her usual stop, where her grandfather picks her up. Instead, the 6-year-old was let off about a half mile away near a trailer park along U.S. Highway 520.

A deputy reportedly responded after receiving reports of a child walking along the busy highway carrying a backpack. A Georgia State Patrol trooper and a nearby resident later located the student. Officials confirmed the child attends Cooper-Carver Elementary School.

The child’s mother Kiara Jones said via the article that her daughter was “crying and shaking” after the incident and had tried to alert the bus driver that she was at the wrong stop when she did not see her grandfather.

School officials responded immediately after learning about the situation, providing direct support to the student and her family. The district reportedly stated that the bus driver involved has been placed on administrative leave while the investigation continues.

No injuries were reported, but the situation could have been dangerous given the traffic along the highway.

The incident has prompted renewed concern about student drop-off procedures and supervision, particularly for younger children who may not be able to navigate unfamiliar areas safely.

Officials said they are working to determine how the error occurred and to prevent similar incidents in the future.

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A high school student shot by a classmate was after getting off a school bus in northwest Houston at the time of the incident, reported Click 2 Houston.

The student, who attends Scarborough High School, was taken to a hospital with a gunshot wound to the leg on March 20, according to the news report. The shooting occurred after the bus stopped near Langwood Park and Benbrook Elementary School, the article noted.

Investigators believe an altercation began on the school bus and continued after the students exited.

“What we believe happened is there was a fight on a school bus here,” said Lt. Larry Crowson of the Houston Police Department. “The fight continued off the school bus into the intersection where you had one student shoot another student.”

A nearby resident who witnessed the shooting said she heard three gunshots and called 911 while rushing to help the injured student.

“I was trying to put a tourniquet on his foot since there was a lot of blood,” the woman told local news reporters. “One person put a sweater on top, and another man put a belt around his leg so he wouldn’t lose too much blood.”

The witness also said the shooting happened near areas where children frequently gather, including a park and nearby school, raising concerns among residents.

Authorities added that a nearby elementary school where an after-school program was being held was placed on lockdown during the investigation. The suspected shooter, also a student, was later located at a nearby home and taken into custody, police said. Authorities have not released additional details about potential charges. The condition of the student shot has not been publicly released.

The investigation remains ongoing.

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A Georgia school bus driver is being hailed as a hero after stopping her route to alert and safely evacuate a family from a house fire, reported FOX 5 Atlanta.

Marlene Davis, a Morgan County school bus driver, was on her morning route March 20 when she noticed smoke and flames coming from a home, according to the news report.

“I saw the big flame coming from inside the house,” Davis told local news reporters. “I just had to stop the bus and go to the door.”

Davis, who had one student on the school bus at the time, pulled over and rang the doorbell until someone answered, the report said.

A man inside, who had been asleep, answered the door and was unaware that the home was surrounded by flames. Davis helped him and others inside to evacuate safely. Everyone inside the house did not suffer any injuries, and the fire was later contained.

Davis said she later realized how serious the situation was after receiving a message from her supervisor indicating the residents had been asleep.

“It was the only thing that I could have done, and it was the right thing to do,” she said. “And I couldn’t just leave them.”

Later that day, the homeowner where the evacuated family lived flagged Davis down by flashing his vehicle headlights to give her a card and express his gratitude for her actions. Family members and loved ones also expressed gratitude for the driver’s quick thinking, which may have prevented serious injury or worse.

Officials have not released additional details about the cause of the fire. The investigation is ongoing.

Article written with the assistance of AI.

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A Bibb County school bus driver is being praised for his quick-thinking by steering a bus full of students to safety at a local fire station during a tornado warning, reported 13wmaz.

Alfonso Ponder, who drives for Bibb County Schools, told local news reporters that he began his March 12 route around 5:45 a.m. and expected a routine morning before conditions quickly deteriorated.

“Everything was pretty, pretty good until about 6:30 [a.m.] maybe,” Ponder said via the article. “[Then] I got an alert to my phone saying we was up on a tornado warning and take shelter. Dispatch had told us to take shelter also.”

With about 15 students on board headed to Howard High School, Ponder was driving near a fire station when the alert came through and winds intensified. He decided to pull into the station.

“I had about 15 kids on the bus at the time, and I had decided to pull up because the wind was blowing so hard,” he told reporters. “When I pulled up, the firefighter welcomed me along with 15 kids in for safety.”

Ponder said he had been monitoring the worsening weather and had already identified the fire station as the safest nearby option.

“The weather was kind of getting bad,” he said. “So, I already had to figure out, OK, if they tell us shelter in place, I was gonna try to make it to the fire station, because that’s about the safest place around I can make it.”

Students Kept Safe as Tornado Warning Passes

Firefighters brought Ponder and the students inside, where they remained for about 20 to 25 minutes until the tornado warning expired, and it was safe to continue the route.

The storm frightened many of the students, Ponder stated. “Most of them [were] telling me, ‘Can you please get me back to the house?’” he said. “I said, ‘No, I cannot. I got to get y’all to safety.’ And that’s the only thing was on my mind at the time, getting the kids’ safety, my safety.”

Ponder, who has been driving school buses for about three years, said the experience was his first encounter with a tornado warning while on the job. Afterward, several parents contacted him to express gratitude for protecting their children.

Capt. Keith Carter said his crew at Bibb County Fire Station 3 acted immediately when the bus arrived. “My 25 years, that was my first school bus pulling to the station,” Carter said. “I knew something was wrong. We assisted them getting off the bus, coming into the station. Mr. Ponder; he did follow his protocol. So, he came to the nearest, safest place. We wake up every day wanting to help different people.”

Ponder said he remains thankful that everyone made it through the storm unharmed.

“I want to give a special thanks to the Bibb County Fire Department for allowing me and the kids to get to safety,” he said. “I’m glad all the kids and my coworkers, everybody, was safe.”

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A school bus aide on Long Island was arrested and accused of physically abusing multiple students with special needs, including restraining them by pushing and sitting on them, reported People.com.

According to the news report, police took 37-year-old Devone Medlock of Amityville into custody on March 17, following an investigation into an incident reported in January.

Detectives said Medlock, who worked as an aide for school bus contractor First Student and served a local school, became “physically and verbally abusive with multiple children who are special needs students.”

Medlock is reportedly accused of pushing, slamming, restraining and sitting on the students during the incident, which was first reported Jan. 13. He was arrested at his Long Island home.

Police charged Medlock with six counts of third-degree assault, six counts of menacing in the third degree, and six counts of endangering the welfare of a child. He was scheduled to be arraigned last weekend.

School District Responds

Uniondale School District Superintendent Monique Darrisaw-Akil said Medlock was immediately terminated following the allegations coming to light. The school also district notified law enforcement.

“We have been cooperating with law enforcement in their investigation and will continue to cooperate fully with law enforcement as this matter proceeds through the legal system,” Darrisaw-Akil said in a statement. “The safety and well-being of our students is our highest priority. We are committed to ensuring any individual or individuals responsible for any abusive or harmful behavior towards any of our students are held accountable.”

First Student also said the alleged conduct was unacceptable, and confirmed Medlock is no longer employed by the company.

Authorities are asking anyone who may have been a victim or has information about the case to contact Nassau County Crime Stoppers at at 1-800-244-TIPS.

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A North Carolina man was arrested after authorities say he exposed himself at a neighborhood school bus stop, where children and families were gathered, reported Fox 8.

Police arrested Angel Esteban Marte, 24, March 5 and charged with felony indecent exposure after the incident in Harnett County.

Deputies said Marte exposed his private parts at the bus stop, and investigators said the act was committed “for the purpose of arousing and gratifying the defendant’s sexual desire.”

Marte also faces a misdemeanor indecent exposure charge in connection with the incident.

The exact location of the bus stop was not specified. The offense is listed as a violent crime on a condition of release order.

According to the article, Marte was being held without bond at the Harnett County Jail. He was scheduled to make his first court appearance.

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A 38-year-old man already facing charges in a separate case is accused of pointing what appeared to be a long gun at a school bus transporting nine children in southern Minnesota, reported Fox 9.

According to the news report, police charged Alex Jeffrey Wolters with second-degree assault with a dangerous weapon and threats of violence following the March 5 incident in Faribault.

Police said officers received a report around 7:40 a.m. from a school bus aide who claimed they saw a man brandishing a gun. Investigators later identified the man as Wolters.

Law enforcement officials reviewed video from the school bus that showed the aide reacting after spotting the object. The bus was transporting nine children at the time of the incident. Authorities arrested Wolters several hours later.

During a post-Miranda interview, Wolters denied pointing anything at the bus but acknowledged he had been in his home garage that morning. He told police he had been working on an insulation project and went into the garage to retrieve an item. Officers later found a copper tube and black plastic tubing in the home’s attic that, when combined, resembled a long gun.

Police also spoke with Wolters’ father, who allowed investigators to inspect two-gun safes inside the home. Authorities said one safe appeared to have been tampered with since the father said he last used it. Another safe appeared partially opened but remained locked.

The complaint states the tampered safe contained several rifles, shotguns and a pistol, while the other safe held two pellet rifles.

Court records indicate Wolters was already on pretrial supervision in a separate 2025 case involving threats of violence. He allegedly threatened to “murder everyone” in a local apartment building, saying he would go to a police station and “kill the police.”

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A mother is facing multiple charges after authorities allege she assaulted a school bus driver while trying to board her children in Cobb County, Georgia, reported WSB-TV 2.

According to the news report, Zaria Stovall is accused of boarding a Marietta City Schools bus and confronting the driver Feb. 24.

Police say via the article that Stovall refused to get off the bus and threatened the driver. The encounter escalated into a physical altercation, during which Stovall allegedly struck the driver and threw a spray bottle at him.

Stovall’s children were on the bus at the time of the incident. Authorities have not said what prompted the confrontation.

She was charged with simple assault, simple battery, criminal trespassing and disruption of public-school education, according to authorities.

Stovall later posted a $5,000 bond, jail records show. Authorities have not released additional details about the driver’s condition.

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Two boys, 12 and 15 years old, were taken into custody after allegedly stealing a school bus in New York and crashing into a residential home early on Feb. 26, reported CBS 6.

According to the news report, the school bus theft originated at the Amazing Grace Transportation lot at approximately 6 a.m. on Feb. 27. The bus was then driven to a nearby home, where it crashed.

Despite some property damage, emergency responders confirmed that no residents inside the home were injured. Residents in the neighborhood reported hearing the crash and expressed relief that no one was hurt, though many were shaken by the early morning disruption.

Investigators said the two juveniles fled the scene on foot after the crash but were located nearby and detained by police officers.

Both boys face charges that include criminal possession of stolen property and criminal mischief, authorities said. Because of their ages, the case will likely progress through family court proceedings rather than the adult criminal justice system.

Officials have not released additional details regarding the motive behind the school bus theft or whether the suspects have legal representation. The investigation remains active as law enforcement continues to piece together how juveniles accessed the bus managed to drive it off the transportation company lot.

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Police arrested and charged a candidate for the Johnston County Board of Commissioners in connection with a hit-and-run crash involving a school bus in Four Oaks, North Carolina, reported WRAL News.

Chad Stewart allegedly failed to slow down and crashed into the back of a stopped school bus last Thursday. Authorities charged Stewart with failure to stop for a stopped school bus, hit-and-run resulting in property damage, and failure to reduce speed to avoid a collision. He was arrested Friday.

Seven students from Johnston County Early College and Johnston County Career and Technical Leadership Academy school bus passengers at the time of the crash. No injuries were reported.

Stewart is running for the District 3 seat on the Johnston County Board of Commissioners in the upcoming Republican primary. He previously served on the board from 2013 to 2021, including terms as chairman and vice chairman.

A judge issued Stewart a $20,000 bond. His next court appearance is scheduled for April 10.

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A former school bus monitor in Grady County in southwest Georgia is facing a simple battery charge following allegations that she assaulted a student with autism while on duty, reported WALB News.

The alleged student assault occurred Feb. 12 at Eastside Elementary School in Cairo, Georgia.

The school’s resource officer along with another witness reviewed surveillance footage from the school bus. The officer reportedly stated that the video showed the bus monitor pinching the child and “striking him in the face with what appeared to be a bag.”

The child’s mother said she was notified to come to the school and discovered a bruise on her son when she arrived. She said her child, who is on the autism spectrum, was able to communicate what happened during the student assault on the school bus ride.

“I felt like I needed to speak out to protect my son,” the mother said via the article.

Grady County Schools confirmed that the school bus monitor involved is no longer employed by the district.

Authorities said the former school employee was charged with simple battery. The school resource officer indicated officials are working toward making an arrest as the investigation continues.

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Authorities in Georgia are searching for a woman accused of stealing a full-size school bus from an elementary school parking lot and taking it on a late-night drive across county lines, reported Fox News.

The school bus was reportedly taken from Arbor Springs Elementary School in Coweta County during the early morning hours Feb. 9. The vehicle was later recovered nearly 40 miles away in Temple, located in Carroll County.

Investigators reportedly said the suspect did not appear to force entry into the bus, as she seemingly had access to a key. Internal surveillance cameras installed on the vehicle captured images of the woman during the incident. Authorities noted that a bag or purse could be seen being placed on the front seat in the footage.

The school bus was recovered without any visible damage, and officials confirmed the incident occurred on school property outside of normal school hours. No injuries have been reported.

The case remains under investigation. The sheriff’s office is asking for the public’s assistance, particularly residents in the Temple area, to help identify the suspect.

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A New Britain man was charged with 12 counts of risk of injury to a child after police say he failed to intervene while middle school students fought with and sexually assaulted other students on a school bus he was driving last October, reported CT Insider.

Dominic Jimerson, 61, was arrested Jan. 21 and was scheduled to be arraigned Feb. 4 in Manchester Superior Court. Has released on a $5,000 bond.

Jimerson was reportedly driving a Dattco-contracted school bus carrying 11- to 14-year-old Timothy Edwards Middle School students from South Windsor to Hartford, with multiple drop-offs along the route.

Police said Jimerson failed to act as multiple incidents unfolded on the bus, including fights and sexual assaults involving students. Investigators said school bus drivers are responsible for the welfare, safety and security of students and are trained as mandated reporters for the state Department of Children and Families. Drivers are also required to intervene when a child’s safety or welfare is in jeopardy.

Jimerson’s manager reportedly told police that Jimerson filed a report about the students’ behavior after the incident and informed the company he would not drive the route again. Even after being told that a bus monitor would be assigned to the route, Jimerson refused to return.

According to the report, Jimerson had multiple options to intervene prior, including stopping the bus, addressing the students directly, contacting the bus dispatcher, and contacting the district or police. South Windsor police became aware of the incident after a video showing a student attempting to sexually assault another student began circulating on Snapchat. The mother of a student who was allegedly assaulted also contacted school administrators.

Investigators obtained video footage from the bus, which was provided by the Capitol Region Education Council. Police said via the article that some students were actively involved in the assaults, while others were “uninvolved participants, but clearly intimidated or upset by the actions of others.”

At one point in the video, police reportedly heard muffled screams from a student who appeared to be held down in a seat. In another video, a student can be heard alerting the Jimerson. But police said Jimerson did not respond.

Several students involved in the incident are under investigation for crimes against one another and are considered both victims and suspects in alleged breaches of peace and sexual misconduct. The warrant identifies six suspects: One 11-year-old, one 12-year-old and four 13-year-olds. Police said they will not release information about juvenile arrests.

Lt. Mark Cleverdon of the South Windsor Police Department said no additional details regarding juveniles would be disclosed.

Jimerson did not speak with police during the investigation. Attorney Patrick Paoletti contacted police on Jimerson’s behalf and asked investigators to direct any communication through him. But police said Paoletti did not return follow-up calls.

The Judicial Branch lists Paoletti as an attorney for Dattco. Calls to Paoletti and Dattco were not returned. The case remains under investigation.

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Attorneys for the Palm Beach County School Board argued in court last month that a student with autism who was a victim of sexual assault on a school bus at age 3 and a half did not suffer long-lasting trauma as a result of the attack, a claim strongly disputed by a medical expert testifying for the child’s family, reported The Palm Beach Post.

During testimony Thursday, Miami psychiatrist Dr. Michael Hughes told jurors the sexual assault had a profound and enduring impact on the girl, now 9, affecting her emotional development, learning ability and overall quality of life. Hughes rejected the school board’s assertion that the child’s ongoing difficulties stem solely from pre-existing developmental disabilities.

“The younger the child, the greater the impact of the trauma,” Hughes testified via the article, adding that early childhood experiences play a critical role in long-term development. He explained that the girl’s silence about the January 2007 sexual assault does not indicate a lack of memory or harm.

The girl was riding a school bus carrying special-needs students of varying ages when she was assaulted by a 15-year-old “emotionally disturbed boy.” The school district does not dispute that the assault occurred. Instead, its attorneys argue the district should not be held financially responsible for years of therapy and specialized education. It says the therapy is unrelated to the incident.

According to the news report, Hughes testified that the attack caused the child to withdraw from the world, stunting her curiosity and learning. He noted that adults on the school bus, the driver and a bus aide, failed to protect or comfort her, reinforcing a sense of fear and helplessness.

According to Hughes, the girl’s academic progress has significantly declined. Now in fourth grade, she is reportedly completing preschool-level work. Her I.Q. score dropped from 77 to 67 between first and third grade, placing her in the borderline intellectually disabled range.

“She’s not plateauing — she’s falling further behind,” Hughes said, recommending extensive therapy and specialized education as her only chance at achieving a functional adult life.

School board attorney Thomas McCausland reportedly challenged Hughes’ conclusions, arguing that fluctuations in I.Q. scores are common and can be influenced by factors such as fatigue or nutrition. McCausland also questioned whether the child’s behavior toward Hughes, allowing him to hug her and kiss her forehead, was consistent with someone who views the world as threatening.

Earlier testimony from the girl’s parents described behavioral changes following the sexual assault, including aggression toward toys and family members and rejection of traditionally feminine clothing. McCausland reportedly countered that some of these behaviors predated the incident and suggested that conflicts with her half-brother stem from competitive video gaming.

Jurors appeared engaged, with one asking the father how the girl behaved immediately after the assault. He testified she exited the bus “like an ordinary child.”

The alleged assailant, now 21, was deemed incompetent to stand trial and refused to testify, invoking his Fifth Amendment rights. The bus aide, Grenisha Williams, was fired and later convicted of child neglect. Jurors were shown video footage from the bus, which captured the boy’s movements during the sexual assault, though the girl was not visible due to her size.

Cross-examination of Dr. Hughes is expected to continue as the trial proceeds.

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A Detroit bus driver is facing community backlash after live-streaming himself offering free rides to students walking to school during frigid weather, a gesture he said came from concern, but that school officials warn could pose serious safety risks, reported New York Post.

Darrell Beaver, owner of Ellamin’Op Transportation, advertised the impromptu free rides on his Facebook page Jan. 28, encouraging parents on Detroit’s Eastside to alert their children if they saw his yellow bus.

Beaver wrote, “Hey I’ll be on the Eastside this morning finding kids that walk to school and giving them a free ride. Let your kids know if a yellow bus with Ellamin’Op Transportation on it, Its safe to get on please share and drop some location.”

The post quickly raised alarms among parents and Detroit Public Schools Community District officials. After receiving multiple reports, the district issued a mass text alert warning families that an unauthorized bus was operating in the area.

“An unauthorized bus was reported. Students should only ride official Detroit Public Schools buses on assigned routes,” the alert read, according to local news reports.

Beaver is not affiliated with Detroit Public Schools and is only contracted to operate a planned route with the Braniacs Clubhouse Child Development Center. However, officials reportedly confirmed he allegedly dropped off at least one student at Fisher Magnet Upper Academy with parental permission.

An investigation reportedly found no evidence of malicious intent but emphasized concerns about safety, liability and the precedent such actions could set.

“Removing this gentleman from the equation, we don’t have any information or evidence to suggest he had any nefarious intention,” said Detroit Public Schools Safety Police Chief Labrit Jackson via the article. “But we’re really focusing on sending the message to our young people: do not get into vehicles with strangers.” Jackson warned that publicizing such actions could inspire bad actors to exploit relaxed guidelines.

“The next person who’s watching this now, we’ve given him an idea… a vehicle to have access to our children,” he continued.

The incident occurred as Detroit experienced extreme cold, with morning wind chills between 10 and 15 degrees below zero. Beaver said the harsh conditions motivated him to act.

“I just jumped into help mode. Like, it was freezing,” Beaver told local media. “I was in a bus for over an hour, and my feet were froze[n], so I felt bad to see these kids walking.”

He added that offering rides to random students is not something he typically does and said he did not make money from the additional passengers.

Reaction from parents has been divided. Some defended Beaver, saying his actions helped families who could not afford ride-share services. “I wasn’t mad, but I was just hurt because we were really trying to get to work and school,” parent Jimerson said via the news report. “Lyft is $50. I don’t have $50 to get them to school at six-something in the morning.”

Others, however, expressed serious concerns about student safety.

“Who knows in this day and age what you want to do with someone else’s children,” parent Alana Jackson told local news reporters. “With insurance liability issues, safety issues, stranger danger issues, it’s totally inappropriate.”

No charges are reportedly being pursued against Beaver. He has agreed to stop offering rides to students who are not on his authorized route.

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The post Michigan School Bus Contractor Offers Controversial Free Student Rides appeared first on School Transportation News.

A 5-year-old boy was killed Thursday morning after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York, reported CBS News.

According to the news report, the crash happened around 8:35 a.m. in the Village of New Square. Police said preliminary evidence indicates the school bus struck the child and then run over him.

The boywas rushed to Westchester County Medical Center, where officials said they were pronounced dead at approximately 12:15 p.m. The child’s name has not been released.

Investigators said the school bus driver did not initially realize the child had been struck and continued driving until being flagged down, at which point the driver returned to the scene.

The Ramapo Police Crash Investigation Unit responded and is reportedly conducting an extensive investigation, which involves coordination with partner agencies, interviews, scene measurements, data analysis, and vehicle inspections.

Police told local news reporters that the bus company is cooperating with the investigation, and the vehicle will be inspected by the New York State Department of Transportation.

No charges or additional details have been announced as the investigation remains ongoing.

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The post N.Y. Child Struck, Killed by School Bus appeared first on School Transportation News.

Police took a teenager suspected of vehicle theft into custody after a brief pursuit ended in a collision with an Aldine Independent School District school bus near Houston, Texas, reported Fox News.

According to the news report, the incident began around 4:22 p.m. Jan. 27, when a FLOCK license plate camera alerted authorities to a possibly stolen vehicle in northeast Harris County. Sheriff’s deputies located the vehicle and attempted a traffic stop. The driver fled, prompting the pursuit that lasted approximately five minutes.

The pursuit reportedly ended near Homestead Road and U.S. 59, after the suspect ran a red light and struck the Aldine ISD school bus on its right-rear side.

Aldine ISD said 28 Aldine Middle School students were on board at the time of the crash. Four students were transported to a hospital for evaluation, though authorities did not release details on their conditions.

Investigators said the suspect, believed to be around 17 years old and not named due to their age, was taken into custody at the scene of the crash. The teen was evaluated by EMS, refused treatment and was transported to the Joint Processing Center.

The teen could face felony charges related to possession of a stolen vehicle and firearm, which Sheriff’s deputies also recovered. The investigation remains ongoing.

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