According to the Albuquerque Journal, a Santa Fe (N.M.) county grand jury will be impaneled to consider criminal charges in the March 1999 charter bus accident that resulted in two deaths and 30 injuries. An 11-year-old boy and a 44-year-old parent died in the crash, while several other children suffered serious injuries. The charter bus was owned and operated by Shuttlejack, which was subsequently shut down by former owner Ray Sena. The bus crashed while transporting a group of elementary school students back from a ski trip in the Santa Fe mountains. Federal investigators attributed the crash to brake failure. Sena, who recently suffered a heart attack, is also being investigated for allegedly violating a court order by leasing two of his former Shuttlejack buses to an El Paso, Texas, company.
Grand jury to probe Santa Fe bus crash
According to the Albuquerque Journal, a Santa Fe (N.M.) county grand jury will be impaneled to consider criminal charges in the March 1999 charter bus accident.
More Safety
Industry Suppliers Offer Distracted Driving Awareness Month Reminders
Distracted driving continues to pose serious risks in school zones, with new data and driver insights highlighting ongoing concerns and potential solutions to improve student and roadway safety.
Read More →
NTSB Names Michael Graham Vice Chair: Where He Stands on School Bus Safety
A former airline pilot has stepped into a new role at the independent federal agency, but where does he stand on issues like seat belts on school buses? Here’s what he’s said.
Read More →
'A Train Is Coming': Florida School Bus Close Call Highlights Critical Railroad Safety Reminders
A Sumter County school bus driver faces child endangerment charges after proceeding over train tracks that clipped the back of the vehicle. The incident highlights the importance of rail crossing safety. Here’s what happened and what to tell your own drivers.
Read More →
No Train, No Stop? FMCSA Considers Rule Change for School Buses
The federal agency's proposed rulemaking would eliminate the requirement for school buses to come to a complete stop at railroad crossings if the warning device is not activated. The goal: to improve traffic flow and save costs. With new data released, public comment is open through April 27, 2026.
Read More →
The Essential Guide to School Bus Maintenance: Maximizing Safety and Uptime
Stop reacting to engine lights and start predicting them. This guide reveals how transitioning from a "break-fix" model to a data-driven maintenance strategy can drastically reduce fleet downtime and protect your district's budget. Learn how to transform your garage operations from a cost center into a reliability powerhouse.
Read More →
2 Students Die in Tennessee School Bus Crash with Dump Truck
A Carroll County accident claimed the lives of two students and injured over a dozen others on a March 27 field trip for eighth graders at Clarksville-Montgomery County.
Read More →
School Bus Laws to Watch: Stop-Arm Enforcement, EV Mandates & Seat Belts
From North Dakota public charter school regulations, tracking illegal school bus passing consequences in multiple states, and the continued debate on New York’s electric school bus mandate, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
Boosting K-12 Attendance With Innovative Transportation Solutions
While the yellow school bus remains the backbone of student transit, 75% of administrators identify limited transportation access as a major driver of chronic absenteeism. This guide explores how districts are strengthening their fleets by integrating flexible, supplemental solutions to serve students with the most complex needs. Learn how a multimodal approach can bridge service gaps, restore attendance, and support your most vulnerable populations.
Read More →
Michigan District Rolls Out New Stop-Arm Program
Grand Rapids Public Schools is partnering up with BusPatrol and Dean Transportation to outfit the entire bus fleet with cameras.
Read More →
Safety Vision Report Highlights Growing Impact of AI-Powered Video on Fleet Safety
New research finds intelligent video systems are reducing crashes, lowering insurance costs, and reshaping safety strategies across school transportation fleets.
Read More →