Trip Sheet: Evolution of Seat Belt Laws on U.S. School Buses
New Jersey School District Settles for Nearly $20M in 2018 Crash
The settlements come five years after a Paramus Public Schools bus collided with a dump truck while on a field trip.
October 30, 2023
The 2018 case killed two aboard a Paramus school bus and left dozens injured.
Image: Canva
1 min to read
The Paramus (N.J.) Public Schools reached a settlement of about $20 million with relatives of victims of a 2018 collision between a school bus and dump truck that killed a student and teacher.
The family of Miranda Vargas, 10, is set to receive $7 million. The family of Asher Majeed, critically injured in the wreck, will get $12.5 million, according to NJ.com.
“My clients were pleased to have settled these two tragic cases after five years of litigation,” attorney Bruce Nagel told NJ.com.
The accident happened May 17, 2018. As School Bus Fleet reported at the time, the collision with a Mendez Trucking dump truck tore away the bus undercarriage and left the vehicle body on its side in the median. The bus, with 50 students aboard, had been one of three on a field trip to Waterloo Village from East Brook Middle School in Paramus.
The bus driver, Hudy Muldrow Sr., was sentenced to 10 years in prison in 2020.
That crash led to legislation requiring seat belts on school buses in New Jersey.
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 →