Alabama School Bus Driver Dies After Bus Overturns
Kimberleigh Welch is traveling along the highway when another vehicle hits her bus, causing it to overturn. She is taken to the hospital where she succumbs to her injuries. No one else was on board at the time.
Sadiah Thompson・Assistant Editor
October 11, 2019
Mobile County (Ala.) Public Schools bus driver Kimberleigh Welch passed away on Thursday after another vehicle hit her bus, causing it to overturn. Photo courtesy Mobile County Public Schools
2 min to read
Mobile County (Ala.) Public Schools bus driver Kimberleigh Welch passed away on Thursday after another vehicle hit her bus, causing it to overturn. Photo courtesy Mobile County Public Schools
MOBILE, Ala. — A beloved school bus driver here passed away on Thursday after her school bus overturned following a crash with two other vehicles, police said.
The bus driver, identified by Alabama Law Enforcement Agency as 32-year-old Kimberleigh Welch, was traveling along Interstate 65 at around 7:30 a.m. when a vehicle, driven by 22-year-old Brandon Barner, struck the bus, according to a news release from the agency. Another vehicle, driven by 22-year-old Brunti Givens, was also involved in the crash. Welch, who was the only one aboard the bus at the time, was transported to the hospital where she succumbed to the injuries she sustained in the crash. Neither Barner nor Givens were injured, officials said.
Ad Loading...
Barner was charged with homicide by vehicle and has been booked into Mobile County Metro Jail, WKRG reports.
On Thursday afternoon, Mobile County Public Schools posted a statement on its Facebook page mourning the loss of Welch, who had been a driver for the district since February 2018. The district said in the post that prior to the crash, Welch dropped off students at Pathway Alternative School.
“We are deeply saddened by the loss of one of our Mobile County Public Schools’ family members, Mrs. Kimberleigh Welch,” said Chresal Threadgill, the superintendent for the district. “Mrs. Welch was a very well-liked, caring, and dedicated bus driver and volunteer for our district.”
Pat Mitchell, the district’s transportation director, added that the district lost one of its “heroes,” and that “the kids and the staff at her school loved her and thought the world of her.”
The district said counselors will be available to meet with students and staff during this time.
Ad Loading...
View the full statement from Mobile County Public Schools, posted on the district’s Facebook page, below.
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.
Child Safety Network appointed psychology researcher Michael C. Hout, Ph.D., to lead a study examining why drivers illegally pass stopped school buses.
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.
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.
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.
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.
EverDriven has launched a new safety council aimed at standardizing and strengthening student transportation practices across all states it operates in.
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.
