Bicyclist Dies After Colliding With School Bus
Investigators in California find that the man was riding his bicycle through lanes of stopped traffic when he was struck by the bus.
LODI, Calif. — A man crossing a road on a bicycle collided with a school bus here on Friday, fatally injuring him, authorities said.
The crash occurred around 1:50 p.m. at the intersection of Kettleman Lane and School Street in Lodi. According to a California Highway Patrol (CHP) press release, the initial investigation found that the bicyclist was traveling southbound from School Street through stopped traffic in the westbound lanes of Kettleman Lane. CHP said that a school bus was traveling westbound on Kettleman Lane in a left turn lane, and the bus struck the bicyclist.
A review of the intersection on Google Maps shows that School Street has stop and right-turn-only signs at Kettleman Lane, a larger street with a raised median that blocks traffic from crossing at School Street. The left turn lane that the bus was traveling in, westbound on Kettleman, proceeds past School Street to turn left at the next intersection, with Church Street. The image below shows the median on Kettleman, beyond which is the left turn lane, the other westbound lanes, and then School Street in the background.
CHP said that medical personnel transported the bicyclist to a hospital, where he later succumbed to his injuries. Investigators determined that neither alcohol nor drugs was a factor in the collision.
A CHP public information officer could not be reached for additional details about the crash as of press time.
Lodi Police Sgt. Tim Fritz told the Lodi News-Sentinel, “It sounds like the bicyclist came across the lanes in front of the bus. I don’t believe the bus was moving very fast.”
That fits a witness’s account of the crash. James Grill told the Lodi News-Sentinel that he saw the bicyclist riding in between cars, and the man apparently failed to see the bus coming in the turn lane.
“[The bus driver] wasn’t speeding or anything,” Grill told the newspaper. “[The bicyclist] just cut out right in front of her.”
A GoFundMe online fundraiser identifies the bicyclist as Salomon Edgar Rodriguez. His niece, Alejandra Rodriguez-Nava, wrote that he had been in the U.S. for about two years and was working to provide for his wife and daughter in Mexico. Rodriguez-Nava wrote that her uncle was riding to his second job at the time of the crash.
“He was a hardworking son, brother, father and husband who was loved very much by all his family,” Rodriguez-Nava wrote. “He will be dearly missed.”
She said that all donations will go toward her uncle’s funeral expenses, including transporting him back to Mexico to be buried.
Fox 40 reported that Rodriguez’s family members also held a car wash to help cover funeral expenses.
More Safety

Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System
The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.
Read More →
NY Coalition Calls for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students
A new statewide coalition is urging New York lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.
Read More →
America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse
Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.
Read More →
School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate
Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.
Read More →
The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation
Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.
Read More →
Operation STEER Brings Emergency Response Training to North Texas
Prosper ISD hosted the third annual training for transportation professionals across 67 districts to learn how to respond to emergencies, such as rollovers and evacuations, and proper use of safety equipment.
Read More →
Florida District Relaunches BusPatrol School Bus Camera Program With New Safeguards
After being suspended over due process concerns, Miami-Dade schools and law enforcement are restarting the AI-powered stop-arm camera program with new oversight.
Read More →
School Bus Laws To Watch: Seat Belt Bills, Funding Fights & EV Changes
From national bills on seat belts and driver oversight to driver awareness campaigns referencing “Finn’s Rule” and ongoing transportation funding debates in Alaska, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
9-Year-Old Boy Killed by School Bus at Busy Brooklyn Intersection
A Williamsburg community is mourning after a child was fatally struck by a private yeshiva bus, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements at the high-traffic crossing.
Read More →
Does Reliable School Transportation Boost Attendance? EverDriven’s Data Says Yes
The new data shows 99.99% incident-free trips and strong on-time performance, reinforcing how dependable transportation, especially for vulnerable student populations, can help districts combat chronic absenteeism.
Read More →
