Bus driver in fatal crash charged with vehicular homicide
District attorney says Pennsylvania school bus driver was driving “in an extremely reckless manner” when his bus struck a car, killing the passenger. The driver was also reportedly responsible for a non-bus related fatal crash in 1999. Watch footage from the February incident here.

Footage from an onboard recorder shows a school bus turning into the path of an oncoming car. The bus driver was charged with homicide by vehicle in the crash, which killed the passenger of the car and injured others.
ZIEGLERVILLE, Pa. — A school bus driver was driving “in an extremely reckless manner” when his bus struck a car, killing the passenger, according to the county district attorney.
The bus driver in the Feb. 17 accident, Frederick Robert Poust III, was arrested Tuesday for homicide by vehicle and numerous counts of recklessly endangering other persons.
Investigators said that Poust, transporting 45 middle school students, was attempting to turn left into a school driveway. Footage from an onboard recorder shows the bus turning into the path of an oncoming car.
Poust “operated the school bus in a negligent and recklessness manner, improperly entering the eastbound lane of traffic and causing the accident,” a statement from Montgomery County District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman said.
The passenger of the car was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the car was taken to a hospital with serious injuries. Five students on the bus sustained minor injuries.
Authorities said the video footage prior to the crash showed that Poust had run 10 stop signs. He also allegedly was fatigued after working a night shift in his security job and talked on a cell-phone headset while driving the bus (although apparently not at the time of the crash).
“He's tired, he's exhausted, he's distracted,” Ferman said. “He's listening to music. He's talking on the phone. He's ignoring stop signs and basically ignoring every safety precaution you would want a school bus driver to pay attention to.”
The district attorney noted that this was the second fatal accident that Poust has caused. In 1999 (before he was a school bus driver), Poust failed to stop at a stop sign and struck another vehicle. The crash killed a 2-year-old girl and injured her mother.
“Knowing that past history and then seeing the driving that was going on that day just outrages all of us,” Ferman said. “It is impossible to think that someone who had taken the life of a child could be so reckless on this particular day while carrying more children.”
More Safety

From Reactive to Proactive: Making Every Ride Visible
Smart technology only delivers its full value when it works together. See how Catalyst connects proven industry platforms to move student transportation from reactive to proactive.
Read More →
HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud Warns Motorists of Stopped School Buses
Through a transponder or Samsara connection, the product lets school bus fleets send advance warnings to approaching drivers through in-vehicle alerts.
Read More →
HopSkipDrive Reports Progress on Safety Advisory Council
More than a year after forming the council, independent safety experts have helped shape new rider-safety features and policy progress, with a new goal to address rider behavior.
Read More →
What the 2026 National School Bus Safety Month Resolution Means for Student Transportation
The bipartisan resolution highlights illegal school bus passing, student safety during loading and unloading, and the need for driver training and public education.
Read More →
School Bus Stop-Arm Violations Decline 53% Across Verra Mobility Programs
Verra Mobility shares how school bus stop-arm cameras and school zone safety programs are changing driver behavior, reducing violations, and protecting students.
Read More →
Most Bus Crashes Aren’t Your Fault. Here’s How to Prove It.
A guide for what to do in between a school bus crash and a claim: what to preserve, who to notify, and how to keep the facts available when they matter.
Read More →
National School Bus Safety Week 2026: Tips, Toolkits & Resources to Keep Students Safe
School bus safety takes more than awareness. Explore expert tips, enforcement strategies, and free resources to help protect students on every ride.
Read More →
2 Killed, Dozens Injured in Florida School Bus Crash
A multi-vehicle collision caused a Polk County school bus carrying 37 students to overturn on its way to Winter Haven High School.
Read More →
Illegal School Bus Passing Drops 24% in New York Districts
With fewer than 5% of citations involving repeat offenders, Westchester County officials said enforcement, education, and community partnerships are helping change driver behavior.
Read More →
School's Back. Here's What Happened to Traffic, Speeding & Distraction
What happens to traffic when school resumes? New data analysis examines changes in distracted driving, congestion, and speeding around schools.
Read More →

