On April 2, 2026, students aboard a Sumter County School District bus in Florida faced a terrifying moment as the bus crossed railroad tracks in Bushnell.

Florida's School Bus-Railroad Close Call: What Happened

A train clipped the back of the bus with 29 kids and two adults inside.

WESH 2 News detailed how it happened per the arrest report: The driver proceeded over a railroad crossing after the warning lights had already activated and the crossing arms had begun to lower. A student was heard on video shouting, “A train is coming!” Another local report shared that the driver’s voice could be heard saying, “Not gonna stop for no train.”

Thankfully, no one was injured, though several students expressed fear of riding the bus again.

Here is one TikTok video that a student onboard the bus shared:

According to local news reports, the driver was cited the same day for failing to stop at a railroad crossing. She is no longer employed by the district and now faces 29 counts of child neglect and a reckless driving charge.

The district superintendent asked all district buses to avoid the East Central Avenue crossing and reroute to one of four signal-controlled crossings. They are also reviewing bus driver qualifications, railroad crossing procedures, and route planning.

Here is their statement regarding the incident:

The incident offers a stark reminder of the need for proper driver training regarding railroad safety.

Nearby, a Rear-Ending on the Tracks

That same day, near Jacksonville, San Pablo Elementary School students received a scare near train tracks, too.

A Duval County Public Schools bus carrying San Pablo Elementary School kindergarteners for a field trip was rear-ended, according to local news reports. A witness said a semi-truck crashed into the back of the school bus after a row of buses were stopped at a crossing to check for passing trains. Four students were injured.

In Dick Fischer's SchoolBus Safety e-newsletter on April 13, 2026, he reminded that this is why he recommends not placing students in the last two rows of the bus.

FMCSA’s Potential Crossing Change

It’s worth noting that FMCSA is considering a change to its long-standing rule that school buses must stop at all railroad crossings at all times. The proposed change would add an exception for a crossing equipped with an active warning device not in an activated state.

According to Federal Railroad Administration data:

• School buses were not involved in any vehicle-rail collision at any crossing type between 2016 and 2024.
• There were no rear-end fatal crashes involving school buses near active crossings with highway signals, nor at passive crossings. There were 10 fatal rear-end crashes (only two involving a school bus) near crossings actively controlled by crossing gates or flashing lights between 2016 and 2023.
• Across 71,249 active railroad grade crossings with multiple trains traveling through per day, there are approximately 263 signal failures per year.

Close calls and other non-fatal incidents were not mentioned.

Public comment is now open through April 27, 2026.

6 Railroad Crossing Safety Reminders for School Bus Drivers

1. Slow down, test your brakes, and activate your four-way hazard lights about 200 feet before the crossing. (If you drive a manual vehicle, downshift before you cross.)
2. Check for traffic around you. Make sure it’s clear that you intend to stop. Use a pull-out lane if one is available, and flashers, if necessary.
3. Prepare the bus: Put the transmission in neutral, press down on the service brake, or set the parking brakes (depending on your district’s policy). Turn off the radio and other noisy equipment; ask passengers to be quiet.
4. Stop where you have the best view of the tracks, no closer than 15 feet and no farther than 50 feet from the nearest rail. Check for traffic congestion, a signal, or stop sign. Be certain the containment area across the tracks is large enough to hold the entire bus, plus 15 feet.
5. Open the service door and driver's window. Look and listen for an approaching train in both directions. Proceed only after checking the crossing signals.
6. Go! When you’re sure that no train is approaching, do not hesitate. Cross in low gear and do not change gears while crossing.

_{Source: Operation Lifesaver, Inc.}

Need to give your drivers a refresher on railroad crossing safety? Operation Lifesaver offers free in-person presentations! Consider it as an upcoming driver in-service.

Find more resources and railroad crossing reminders on Operation Lifesaver’s website.

Editor's note: This post was originally published on April 7, 2026, and was updated on April 13, 2026, to add details on the Jacksonville rear-ending.