Texting cited in teen’s fatal crash into bus

Deianerah "D.J." Logan, 17, was killed when she rear-ended a school bus in September. An investigation finds that the teen was texting at the time. Her family says in a statement that “we would much rather be grounding her for this mistake than never hearing her laughter fill the house again.”

Thomas McMahon・Executive Editor

November 1, 2012

Texting cited in teen’s fatal crash into bus — Deianerah "D.J." Logan, 17, was killed when she rear-ended a school bus in September.

2 min to read

BYRON, Minn. — A teenager who was killed when she rear-ended a school bus was texting at the time, an investigation has found.

Deianerah "D.J." Logan was 17 when she died in the September crash, which happened as she was driving home from the first day of her senior year of high school.

With the accident investigation complete, Logan’s family last week released a statement about the tragedy.

“Her error in judgment as a teenager in this brief moment in time was paid for with the highest price ever … her life,” the Logan family said. “We would much rather be grounding her for this mistake than never hearing her laughter fill the house again.”

The family said that the details of the accident are “devastating,” but they sought to raise awareness of the dangers of distracted driving.

“Cell phones are a distraction for many while driving,” the family said. “As parents, we need to educate and live by example by limiting our phone use while in the car.

“Our beautiful D.J. was a good kid, with good grades, great friends, a perfect driving record and loved life,” the family continued. “She made a mistake like all teenagers do in the process of growing up. Except this time, there is no growing up. We can only pray that others can learn from her.”

According to a Post-Bulletin news report from the time of the accident, authorities said that there had been two students on the bus, and one of them was stepping off when Logan’s minivan rear-ended the bus. Those students and the bus driver were not injured.

The Post-Bulletinreported last week that the crash investigation found that the Byron Public Schools bus driver appeared to be following all traffic laws.

Minnesota law prohibits all drivers from texting. Cell phone use is banned for school bus drivers and for teens with a permit or provisional license, but it is not banned for other drivers.

Logan’s accident recalls a crash in Georgia earlier this year in which police said that an 18-year-old driver was distracted by a text message when she swerved into oncoming traffic and hit a school bus head-on.

Topics:cell phones distracted driving fatalities Management Safety

More Safety

A close up detail of the back of a school bus with text reading "Insight From 10 Years of NHTSA Data."

Safety•by Elora Haynes•July 22, 2026

NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes

The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.

Safety•by Amanda Huggett•July 21, 2026

2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing

New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.

Safety•by Staff and News Reports•July 9, 2026

Another School Bus Fatality Reported in Monsey, New York

A 7-year-old girl died after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York while crossing the street. Here's what we know.

School buses at NSTA's SBDISC Roadeo with text reading "School Bus Drivers Put Their Skills to the Test."

Safety•by Staff and News Reports•June 30, 2026

NSTA Announces 2026 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Winners

Drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showcased their safety and driving skills, with two defending champions successfully retaining their titles.

The Driver Shortage Playbook

Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.