Teen who ran stop arm, fatally struck student, charged with homicide
Michael Shelly, the 18-year-old man accused of fatally striking a 16-year-old girl in Bensalem, Pennsylvania, last month as she walked to her stopped school bus, was arraigned on several charges, including homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangering.
BENSALEM, Pa. — Michael Shelly, the 18-year-old man accused of fatally striking 16-year-old Minete Zeka last month as she walked to her stopped school bus, was arraigned last week on several charges, including homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter and reckless endangering, The Morning Call reports.
In court documents, Bensalem police pointed to Shelly's failure to clear his front windshield and rear windows before operating his 1984 Ford Bronco II as a contributing factor in the Dec. 17 accident that killed the girl, according to the newspaper.
Court documents state that a subsequent investigation determined the school bus was stopped just before the crosswalk with its red warning lights flashing, stop arm activated and crossing arm extended, according to The Morning Call. The bus driver told police he activated the flashing lights 200 feet before stopping at the crosswalk.
Court documents also state that in addition to the broken defrosters, Shelly’s truck had a broken speedometer, a clogged heater port and oversized tires that slide in the rain, according to the newspaper. Among the criminal charges that Shelly faces are summary offenses for driving an unregistered vehicle, displaying a fictitious inspection sticker and operating a vehicle without insurance, The Morning Call reports.
To read the full story, go here.
More Safety

FMCSA Names New Chief Safety Officer: What School Bus Operators Should Know
Steve Dowling is set to lead the federal agency's efforts to advance commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the nation's roadways.
Read More →
New Study Finds School Zone Speed Safety Cameras Cut Speeding Violations 97%
A Florida university's research demonstrates that Verra Mobility's automated enforcement changes driver behavior and significantly improves school zone safety.
Read More →
What Changed in DOT’s New National Roadway Safety Strategy?
The federal agency's new plan shifts its focus to safer people, roads and vehicles, with a new three-pronged approach instead of five. One outlined action even addresses a key industry concern around illegal school bus passing.
Read More →
Are Autonomous Vehicles Ready to Safely Navigate School Bus Stops?
NHTSA is accelerating autonomous vehicle deployment through new safety standards and commercial approvals. See why school transportation leaders are watching.
Read More →
NFL Star Lomas Brown Kicks Off New Illegal School Bus Passing PSA
Just in time for the back-to-school season, the former Detroit Lions offensive tackle took time to record a video encouraging motorists to slow down around school buses.
Read More →
How Two Texas Districts Built Award-Winning Safety Programs
Learn how Prosper ISD and Rockwall ISD earned National Safety Council honors through hands-on training, safety culture, and strategies that reduced transportation incidents.
Read More →
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.
Read More →
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.
Read More →
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.
Read More →
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.
Read More →
