SBF Incident Report Roundup - June 20, 2022

Parents File Lawsuit in New Mexico Bus Collision

A speeding Ford Mustang smashed into the side of an Albuquerque Public Schools bus in February, knocking the vehicle on its side and injuring five people. Now, parents of three children hurt aboard the bus are suing the school district, the Mustang’s driver, and his insurance company, Geico, according to The Albuquerque Journal. The suit was filed in New Mexico’s 2^nd Judicial District Court. Mario Perez, 50, was charged with 17 counts of child abuse. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on June 6.

Maryland School Bus Crash Leaves Several Hurt

Four students, the driver, and a bus aide were among the injured in a June 14 accident involving an Anne Arundel County school bus in Maryland, according to WTOP News. The bus, traveling from Meade Middle School, carried 23 people that afternoon before colliding with two other vehicles, going off the road, and striking a tree.

Former Florida Bus Driver Facing DUI Charges Apparently Attends Court Impaired

Mark McNeil, facing charges of child neglect and driving under the influence for allegedly transporting 40 students on a Florida school bus while drunk, told a judge he was impaired by alcohol after showing up more than two hours late to a court hearing. McNeil, appearing in a Flagler County courtroom on June 13, was in court for a plea hearing, according to FOX 35. He’s been charged with 14 counts of felony child neglect stemming from an incident in February when police say he was four times the legal limit when he climbed onto someone else’s school bus to drive his route.

Mark McNeil is accused of driving a Flagler County school bus drunk with 40 students on it. He showed up 2.5 hours late to his plea hearing today and admitted he was impaired & was sorry for what he did. He was put in handcuffs & will be tested for drugs/alcohol. @fox35orlando pic.twitter.com/IO7uknf5L1

— Stephanie Buffamonte (@StephBuffamonte) June 13, 2022

New York Worker Hurt Refilling Propane-Fueled School Bus

A worker refilling school buses with liquid propane gas on June 9 suffered substantial injuries from cryogenic burns after the hose mechanism came unhooked and doused the man with LPG, according to The Mid-Hudson News. He was fueling vehicles for Arlington Central School District in New York when the hose detached. The gas in liquid form is about 240 degrees below zero.

Montana Schools Superintendent Accused of Illegal Passing

Elsie Arntzen, Montana’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction, on May 19 was accused of illegally passing a school bus with its stop arm extended, according to The Montana Free Press. A report filed with the Helena Police Department indicates that a red Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck passed the bus while children were loading onto the bus. The bus driver told investigators that he recognized Arntzen behind the wheel. On June 3, the newspaper reported, Arntzen pleaded no contest in Helena Municipal Court. She was fined $500, with $400 suspended.