SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

SBF Accident Report Roundup: July 17, 2023

A collection of the latest news about crashes involving school buses.

Christy Grimes
Christy GrimesFormer Senior Editor
July 17, 2023
SBF Accident Report Roundup: July 17, 2023

School Bus Fleet's monthly accident report roundup features details on accidents involving school buses across the country.

Photo: Canva/School Bus Fleet

4 min to read


A number of accidents involving school buses have made headlines in the last few weeks. School Bus Fleet has a roundup of some of the top stories including:

  • Former Connecticut school bus driver charged in deadly crash.

  • Children hospitalized after Chicago school bus rollover.

  • Washington school bus carrying YMCA summer day camp kids rolls over.

  • Philadelphia girl hit by dirt bike after exiting school bus.

  • New Jersey school bus bursts into flames after being evacuated.

Ad Loading...

Former Connecticut School Bus Driver Charged in Deadly Crash

A former school bus driver was charged in connection to a deadly crash involving a motorcycle that happened in Torrington, Connecticut, in September 2022. WTNH reported that 63-year-old Lisa Krulicki turned herself in on June 26 for charges stemming from an active arrest warrant in connection to the crash.

Police said Krulicki was driving an All-Star Transportation school bus when she made a left turn in front of a motorcycle, allegedly causing the crash. The motorcyclist, identified as 24-year-old Zachary Zecchin, was flown to a local hospital and pronounced dead.

No children were on the school bus at the time of the crash.

Lisa Krulicki was charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle and failure to yield while making a left turn.

Photo: Torrington Police Department

The arrest followed a months-long investigation into the fatal crash. Authorities said Krulicki cooperated with the investigation. She was charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle and failure to yield while making a left turn.

Torrington Police reported that Krulicki was processed and released from jail on a $5,000 bond.

Ad Loading...

In a statement to WTNH, All-Star Transportation said Krulicki had not driven any vehicles in its fleet since the crash.

Children Hospitalized After Chicago School Bus Rollover

At least five children were taken to the hospital after the school bus they were riding in rolled over on its side and into a grassy embankment off the side of a busy stretch of highway in Chicago on June 13. ABC 7 Chicago reported that the students attend a private Christian school in Hammond, Indiana. Chicago Fire reported that none of the students faced life-threatening injuries. The bus driver refused treatment on the scene.

Illinois State Police told School Bus Fleet that the children were between the ages of 13 and 16.

No other vehicles were involved.

EMS plan 1 school bus overturned on inbound Ryan about 3800 south locals. Five transports all yellow Driver of bus is refusal Nothing life threatening for transports pic.twitter.com/oBqEBnZyYn

— Chicago Fire Media (@CFDMedia) June 13, 2023

Ad Loading...

The crash happened during the afternoon rush hour in rainy conditions. Illinois State Police told School Bus Fleet that the driver, a 23-year-old, was issued citations for improper lane usage and driving too fast for conditions.

Washington School Bus Carrying YMCA Summer Day Camp Kids Rolls Over

A school bus carrying children from a local YMCA summer day camp in Burlington, Washington, rolled over at about 4:00 p.m. on July 5. Washington State Patrol told KIRO that the bus was taking an exit when it rolled over on its side. The students were elementary school-aged. Only minor injuries were reported.

Uninjured children were taken to a local high school to be reunited with their parents.

BREAKING NEWS: MCI-MINOR: School bus Rollover: Chuckanut Exit SR11 Burlington. pic.twitter.com/mNZTUeQ5mM

— Breaking Skagit (@BreakingSkagit) July 5, 2023

Washington State Police are working to determine the cause of the rollover. A spokesperson told School Bus Fleet that as of July 17, authorities were also still working to determine whether the bus driver will face charges.

Ad Loading...

Philadelphia Girl Hit by Dirt Bike After Exiting School Bus

Police say a 13-year-old Philadelphia girl was struck by a teenage dirt bike rider moments after exiting her school bus. It happened June 12 during the afternoon route. A witness told WPVI that neighbors who were nearby rushed in to help. Police reported that the dirt bike rider, a 17-year-old, initially tried to flee, but was held up by neighbors.

The student suffered cuts to her head and was taken to a hospital. The dirt bike rider was also cut in the face. Police said the rider received tickets.

New Jersey School Bus Bursts into Flames After Being Evacuated

A Jersey City, New Jersey, school bus carrying six people — including four special needs students — burst into flames in Bergen just after being evacuated on July 12. NJ.com reported that the driver was headed toward Jersey City from a nearby school when the undercarriage of the bus caught fire on an interstate entrance ramp.

The driver pulled over and evacuated the bus with the help of a school faculty member onboard. The occupants stood in an area with brush alongside the roadway as the bus was engulfed in flames. The bus was reduced to its metal frame.

More Safety

An orange and white graphic with the cover of HopSkipDrive's 2025 Safety Report and text reading "Seventh Annual Safety Report."
Safetyby StaffMarch 18, 2026

What’s Behind HopSkipDrive’s Near-Perfect Safety Record in 2025?

The alternative transportation provider’s 2025 Safety Report highlights 99.7% incident-free rides, 130 million safe miles, and more.

Read More →
Buyers Guide and Directory thumbnail
SponsoredMarch 13, 2026

2026 School Bus Fleet Vendor Directory & Buyer's Guide

Searching for the right equipment, technology, or services for your school transportation program? This industry guide brings together manufacturers and suppliers across the entire school bus market, all in one place. Download it to find the partners who can help move your operation forward.

Read More →
Portrait of Michael C. Hout, Ph.D., assistant dean and psychology professor at New Mexico State University, featured in a Child Safety Network leadership announcement graphic.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseMarch 6, 2026

Child Safety Network Taps Dr. Michael C. Hout to Combat School Bus Stop-Arm Runners

Child Safety Network appointed psychology researcher Michael C. Hout, Ph.D., to lead a study examining why drivers illegally pass stopped school buses.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
The 5th-generation Waymo Driver on the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE.
Safetyby StaffMarch 5, 2026

NTSB Determines Human Error Led to Waymo’s Illegal School Bus Passing

Investigators reported a remote assistance error allowed a Waymo driverless vehicle to illegally pass a stopped school bus in Austin.

Read More →
The side of a school bus with a retracted stop signal.
Safetyby Elora HaynesMarch 4, 2026

National Action Plan Aims to End Illegal School Bus Passings Across the U.S.

See how a new 50-state roadmap outlines 69 strategies for districts, law enforcement, and policymakers to reduce the 39 million illegal school bus passings reported each year.

Read More →
A school bus graphic with text reading "Iowa Student Killed, 14 Injured in Oklahoma Bus Crash."
Safetyby StaffMarch 3, 2026

11-Year-Old Student Dies After Falling Under School Bus

Recently, an Iowa student died after falling under a school bus, while 14 Oklahoma students were injured days later when a semi-truck rear-ended their bus.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
school bus driver
SponsoredMarch 2, 2026

7 Key Criteria for Choosing a School Bus Fleet Technology Partner

Selecting a fleet technology partner can be complex, especially with evolving operational demands and limited resources. This white paper outlines seven key criteria to help school transportation leaders evaluate options and align technology with their needs. It offers a practical framework to support more informed decision-making.

Read More →
Graphic of a yellow school bus above the headline “The Real Cost of Downtime,” with icons illustrating overtime costs, frustrated parents and administrators, repair expenses, and route delays, emphasizing the operational and financial impact of communication failures in school transportation fleets.
SponsoredMarch 2, 2026

The Real Cost of Bus Fleet Downtime

When school bus communication systems fail, the consequences extend far beyond equipment repairs. Downtime can increase safety risks, strain dispatch operations, and erode driver confidence. Explore how proactive radio lifecycle management and managed services are reducing disruptions, supporting driver retention, and delivering predictable budgeting for school transportation fleets.

Read More →
Graphic showing the EverDriven logo and “SafeOps Council Launches” text over an image of a vehicle driving on a curved road, with School Bus Fleet branding in the corner.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseFebruary 25, 2026

EverDriven Launches New Council to Standardize Safety Across 36 States

EverDriven has launched a new safety council aimed at standardizing and strengthening student transportation practices across all states it operates in.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
a photo of a school bus driving down a suburban street with houses in the background and green grass pictured
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseFebruary 23, 2026

Thomas Built Buses Awards “If You Pass” Safety Campaign Funds to Ga. District

The OEM's three-week campaign during National School Bus Safety Week has awarded nearly $6,000 to Bryan County Schools to support increasing student safety around the bus.

Read More →