October 2023: SBF Accident Report Roundup [Updated 10/25]

Several school bus crashes have made headlines in recent weeks. School Bus Fleet has a roundup of some of those accidents involving school buses. Those include:

• Florida school bus driver involved in fatal crash had multiple recent accidents.
• Child in critical condition after being hit by Louisville school bus.

School Bus Accidents As of Oct. 25, 2023

Florida School Bus Driver Involved in Fatal Crash Had Multiple Recent Accidents

A Florida school bus driver involved in a crash that led to a student's death has a history of accidents.

On Oct. 2, 17-year-old Sherman Vannoy was riding his bike at a crosswalk near Lake Minneola High School when he was struck by a school bus. Fox 35 News reported that the teen approached the intersection, which has a stop sign, and entered the marked crosswalk. 

The bus driver, identified only as a 78-year-old woman, began turning left before seeing the teen in the crosswalk. When the driver saw the teen, she reportedly swerved left, striking the student and running off the road.

The bus driver and two passengers — a 55-year-old woman and an 18-year-old woman — were not injured in the crash.

According to records Fox 35 News obtained from the school district, this was not the driver's first accident.

In late August, the same driver reportedly crashed into a car in the same high school parking lot. According to the report, the driver wrote that she was backing up to let someone else pass and didn't see a car right behind her.

Additionally, a police report from April 2023 revealed the same bus driver tried to make a U-turn at an apartment complex and ended up knocking over the community's call box. No students were on the bus during the first two crashes.

A Lake County School District spokesperson told Fox 35 News that the driver has been there since November 2021. The spokesperson said that the district's response depends on the severity of the incident.

In this case, as they are awaiting the outcome of the law enforcement investigation, the driver did not immediately return to her route. She has been on leave since the accident, but is still currently employed by the district.

The driver was brought before the school district's safe driving committee and given a two-day suspension following the previous crashes.

According to a Facebook post by the school district, after the deadly crash, students and staff wore purple in Vannoy's memory. Students signed a card on what would have been his 18th hirthday, and paid tribute to him at various sporting events.

Child in Critical Condition After Being Hit by Louisville School Bus

A child was critically injured after being hit by a school bus in Louisville on Oct. 23. 

According to Lex18, Louisville Metro Police said the Jefferson County School District bus was driving near Luhr Elementary School when it struck the child. According to police, the initial investigation suggests the child may have darted in front of the bus. No traffic guard was present at that intersection when the accident happened.

Police said the child was with his father and a sibling at the time of the accident. The child was transported to a local hospital in critical condition.

The school bus driver remained on the scene, and no children were on the bus at the time.

School Bus Accidents As of Oct. 19, 2023

New Jersey School Bus Driver Hailed a Hero After Preventing Severe Accident

A school bus crash left a gaping hole in the side of a New Jersey family's garage, but fortunately only minor injuries. As @csloantv reports, the driver told investigators the brakes failed. https://t.co/VHJAjfQWt1

— CBS New York (@CBSNewYork) October 18, 2023

A school bus driver in Edison (Nj.) was praised for her quick thinking that likely prevented a major accident.

On Oct. 18, the school bus driver went around a curve and lost control. The brakes on the bus apparently did not work.

According to ABC 7 New York, the driver avoided a huge ditch, instead hitting a fence and the side of a house to prevent a worse accident with 28 John Adams Middle School students onboard.

Surveillance video showed the bus driving through a fence and hitting the home, then swerving toward the street. It came to a rest in an empty field.

The first officers on the scene reportedly realized the driver did all she could to protect the children.

At least two students on the bus suffered minor injuries. Authorities say no one in the home was injured. The children who were okay were taken to school on another bus where medical staff and a therapy dog were waiting.

In a Facebook post later in the evening on Oct. 18, the district said both students who were injured were taken to the hospital had been discharged.

The district went on to note that though preliminary reports suggest the accident may have been caused by mechanical failure, the incident is under investigation. The bus driver works for a school bus contractor.

Students Injured After School Bus Hits North Carolina Building

Seven students were injured when the Alamance-Burlington (Nc.) school bus they were riding crashed into a business. Authorities told WFMY that the B. Everett Jordan Elementary School bus went off the road, hitting a culvert, then a building during the morning commute.

The family who owned the building came outside to help comfort the childrfen after the crash.

The other 10 students onboard were not hurt and were picked up by their parents at the scene.

The school had counselors available to students. Additional staff also rode the bus in the afternoon with students to offer comfort and support. 

The North Carolina Highway Patrol said the driver had minor injuries but was okay and didn't need to go to the hospital. The bus driver, 75-year-old Ronald Farrow, was charged with failure to maintain lane control.

Student-Athletes, Driver Okay After Fiery New York School Bus Crash

SCHOOL BUS CRASH - Minisink student athletes, driver OK after fiery school bus crash Tuesday on I-84 while headed home from game. https://t.co/FryAiSBAcy pic.twitter.com/B6sqcXRoJE

— Blaise Gomez (@BlaiseGomez12) October 18, 2023

Student-athletes and their school bus driver were uninjured when their bus was involved in a fiery collision in Wallkill (Ny.) on Oct. 17.

Authorities told News 12 Westchester that the girls' volleyball team was on its way home from a game when the bus was rear-ended, causing it to catch fire.

The drivers of both vehicles were okay.

The cause of the crash is under investigation.

Students, Driver Injured in Virginia School Bus Crash

A bus driver and 12 students were injured when a school bus headed to Southwestern Elementary School in Suffolk (Vir.) overturned.

Lauren Violette, who lives in a home in front of where the accident occurred, told 13 News Now that she heard a loud noise outside. When she and a family member went outside to look, they saw a young student help kick out the emergency windows to allow students to evacuate safely. Violette's family brought the students inside to stay warm and away from the road after the accident.

When she went back outside to find the driver who was still on the bus, Violette said she was still in her seat with her seatbelt on. Eventually, the driver freed herself and got off the bus. According to Violette, the driver was nine months pregnant.

Family members of the children arrived to the home after the accident.

Virginia School Bus Goes Into Ditch After Not Stopping at Intersection

A Virginia school bus ended up in a ditch after failing to stop at an intersection, according to Virginia State Police. WRIC reported that 26 students between the ages of 14 and 17 were on the Mathews County school bus on Oct. 14 when the bus failed to stop at an intersection, proceeding down a four-foot ditch.

Two of the students were taken to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The district arranged transportation for the other students on the bus.

Authorities told WRIC that neither speed nor alcohol were contributing factors to the crash, but charges are pending.

North Carolina School Bus Driver Cited for Reportedly Causing Crash

A Lincoln (Nc.) Charter School bus driver was cited after authorities said they caused a multi-car crash on Oct. 19. The incident occurred during the morning route.

According to WSOC, state troopers said the bus collided with a pickup truck that was stopped. That truck then collided with a sedan, which collided with an SUV.

Troopers said 31 students were on the bus at the time of the crash. No one was injured.

The bus driver was cited for failure to reduce speed.

The district released a statement after the crash, saying a substitute bus driver has been secured to take over the route. The statement went on to say that the bus had been inspected by an NC-certified bus inspector, who determined there were no mechanical issues.

School Bus Accidents As of Oct. 11, 2023

Over 50 Students Injured in Pennsylvania Head-On School Bus Crash

More than 50 students were injured after the school bus they were riding on collided head-on with an oncoming vehicle in Bear Creek Township, Pennsylvania. The crash happened during the morning route on Sept. 6, the second day of school for the Bear Creek Community Charter School students.

A resident told WOLF that a tow truck crossed into oncoming traffic, slamming into the school bus. After the crash, the students were picked up by another school bus and transported via escort from Pennsylvania State Police to a local hospital to be evaluated for injuries. Authorities said the children suffered only minor injuries. Several hours after the crash, most had been sent home from the hospital.

The charter school CEO released a statement to WOLF, saying he was grateful for all those who responded to help the students and bus driver in the aftermath.

Both the tow truck driver and school bus driver were transported to the hospital with moderate injuries.

Troopers believe that the tow truck driver suffered a medical emergency behind the wheel, causing the crash.

Man Killed, Students Rescued After Fiery New York School Bus Crash

A school bus driver is being credited for her quick thinking after helping students evacuate the Wayne Central School District school bus when it caught fire. A man driving a sedan was killed after he collided with her school bus on Sept. 27. Authorities told WHAM that the bus was carrying 22 high school students and three adults back from a field trip at the time of the crash.

Webster Assistant Fire Chief Steve Kozak, who lived near the crash site, was able to respond quickly. He told WHAM that when he arrived, the bus was fully engulfed and the car was wedged on the side of it.

Authorities credited the adults on the school bus — the driver and chaperones — for quickly leading students to safety as the fire spread. They reportedly walked the students a half mile from the site of the crash, where they contacted the parents of the students, informing them their kids were safe.

The bus driver, Deb Hibbard, later told WHAM that she and the other teachers onboard immediately started directing students to the back of the bus, where they took off the emergency hatch and started helping each other get off the bus before it became fully engulfed.

Hibbard and one student suffered minor injuries.

Since the accident, Wayne Central School District has sent messages and gifts to Hibbard, expressing their gratitude for her and the others that helped in the effort. Additionally, students signed a card for her.

Hibbard said bus drivers and students go through evacuation drills three times a year, and she believes this helped.

Police identified the driver of the other vehicle, who was killed, as 73-year-old William Fierstein. His dog, who was in the car at the time, was also killed.

Police said the driver pulled out from an adjacent street into the path of the bus. The investigation into the crash continues.

Eight Students Taken to Hospital After Alabama School Bus Crash

Eight students were injured in a crash involving the school bus they were on, as well as an 18-wheeler, on I-59 in Birmingham, Alabama, on Sept. 15.

A spokesperson for the Birmingham City School System told WBRC that the bus was carrying students from Wenonah and Jackson-Olin High Schools. They had just attended a program at the 16th Street Baptist Church commemorating the 60th anniversary of the church bombing.

ABC 33/40 reported that 17 students and three chaperones were onboard at the time of the crash.

A local hospital spokesperson reported that eight children were sent to be evaluated, and all of the injuries appeared to be minor.

The cause of the crash is unclear.

Kentucky Students Injured After School Bus Crashes, Tips Over

Eight students and their school bus driver were injured when their school bus somehow crashed and tipped over on KY 94 in Fulton County, Kentucky, on Sept. 15.

In a press release sent to WPSD, Fulton County School District Superintendent Patrice Chambers said the circumstances surrounding the incident are unknown.

According to Thunderbolt Radio, 16 students and a driver were onboard the bus at the time of the crash. The driver and eight students in need of medical treatment were taken to local hospitals. 

Fulton County Sheriff Chad Parker said that out of the eight students, two of them were transported by ground ambulance and two were taken by air ambulance. The extent of their injuries was unclear. By Sept. 18, all who were taken to hospitals had been released.

The Murray High School football team, which was set to host Fulton County High's football team that night, announced on social media that it postponed the game due to "unforeseen circumstances," saying: "Prayers are with the families in Fulton County."

Chambers said the district is cooperating with local law enforcement in the investigation.

Alabama Driver Arrested, Charged with DUI after School Bus Crash

An Alabama school bus driver was charged with driving under the influence after failing at least one part of a field sobriety test following a school bus crash.

According to WAAY 31, Madison County School Superintendent Ken Kubik released a statement after the Sept. 25 crash saying that the driver, who was not named, was transporting 10 students from Sparkman Middle School. They were thought to have had a medical emergency behind the wheel. The bus collided with a nearby vehicle and left the roadway.

No students were reported injured; they were released to leave the scene and were picked up by their parents.

Alabama state troopers arrived to investigate the crash and determined there was enough probable cause to check the bus driver for impairment. The driver reportedly failed at least one part of the field sobriety test and was transported to an area hospital for further observation and medical tests.

The driver was later charged with DUI and arrested.

The district revealed that a concerned resident had contacted its transportation department after observing the bus was "being driven in an unusual manner." A district employee was sent to meet the bus driver to check on them. While meeting with the driver along the way and at the middle school, the employee reported that they did not observe anything unusual with the driver’s demeanor.

The driver in question is experienced and has been with the district for a year without incident.

The driver told officials they had not been feeling well over the weekend prior to Sept. 25. After watching and talking to the driver for a few minutes, the employee allowed the driver to continue the route.

The superintendent continued, saying in part, "To be clear, MCSS would never knowingly allow an impaired driver to operate a school bus. MCSS is evaluating transportation procedures to prevent this from happening in the future. I assure you that this behavior has no place in our school district, and we remain steadfast in our mission to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff."