SchoolBus logo in red and orange
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Driver, Aide Save Special-Needs Students in School Bus, Tractor-Trailer Crash

The South Carolina driver and aide use their training to report the incident and request assistance, and comfort students when the bus is struck by a tractor-trailer. No one is hurt.

Nicole Schlosser
Nicole SchlosserFormer Executive Editor
Read Nicole's Posts
March 23, 2018
Driver, Aide Save Special-Needs Students in School Bus, Tractor-Trailer Crash

Greenville County (S.C.) Schools bus aide Carletta Cyrus (left) and Tammy Cummings, a bus driver and safety trainer for the district, used their training when their bus, which had four special-needs students aboard, was struck by a tractor-trailer. No one was hurt.

2 min to read


Greenville County (S.C.) Schools bus aide Carletta Cyrus (left) and Tammy Cummings, a bus driver and safety trainer for the district, used their training when their bus, which had four special-needs students aboard, was struck by a tractor-trailer. No one was hurt.

GREENVILLE, S.C. — A school bus transporting four special-needs students was struck by a tractor-trailer on Tuesday, but no one aboard was hurt, thanks to the driver and aide who quickly acted on their training.

Bus surveillance video shows the oncoming tractor-trailer crossing into the lane of the bus and driving off the road.

Tammy Cummings, a bus driver and safety trainer for Greenville County Schools, said her training immediately kicked in, according to a news release from the school district. When she saw the tractor-trailer coming toward her, she said, she started to slow down, which is part of the drivers’ training.

“If we see a big vehicle coming toward us, we either slow down or come to a complete stop so they can pass us,” she added. “That way we won’t collide.”

Ad Loading...

In the video, Cummings holds her arms to cover her face as the trailer slams into the front of the bus. Then she calls dispatch to report the incident as school bus aide Carletta Cyrus comforts students. Cummings also tells dispatch that the power lines are down and they cannot move. After she secures the bus, Cummings helps Cyrus calm the students, and plays a game with one of the children, who is crying.

Adam James, director of transportation for the school district, told WYFF that Cummings wrote the district’s special-needs training textbook.

Cyrus said that she is proud of Cummings, and thankful for the quick actions she took.

“It just clicked in for us because we have good communication, and one took one kid, and the other took the other kid … because of our training,” she added.

Cummings and Cyrus returned to their route the day after the crash. The video of the crash and their response will be used in future bus driver training, according to the school district.

Greenville County Schools tests all its special-needs drivers and aides annually. SBF recently reported on the district's Special Needs Physical Performance Test (SNPPT), which is conducted every year to ensure that special-needs drivers and attendants are both mentally and physically capable of doing the job.

The driver of the tractor-trailer was injured and taken to the hospital, and was charged with driving left of center, South Carolina Highway Patrol troopers told WYFF.

Watch video below of the crash and the driver and aide's actions afterward.

More Special Needs Transportation

Graphic showing a school bus with a wheelchair lift deployed and the headline “Special Needs Ridership Rises & More Trends,” highlighting 2026 School Bus Fleet special-needs survey results.

Special-Needs Transportation Shifts in 2026: More Riders, More Tech, New Pressures [Survey Report]

What’s changing in special-needs transportation? Operators report a rising need, easing driver shortages, growing tech adoption, and emerging challenges. Details here! Survey sponsor: AMF Bruns of America.

Read More →
An aerial photograph of Jersey City, New Jersey, during the day.
Special Needs TransportationJanuary 20, 2026

New Jersey Legislature Approves Special Education Transportation Task Force

The state moves to review special education transportation policies following safety concerns raised by families and advocates.

Read More →
SponsoredJanuary 19, 2026

3 New Ways Fleet Software Pays: ROI opportunities for modern fleet managers

Keeping buses safe, reliable, and on schedule requires more than manual processes. This eBook explores how modern fleet software supports school transportation teams with automated maintenance scheduling, smarter video safety tools, and integrated data systems. Discover practical ways fleets are reducing breakdowns, improving safety, and saving valuable staff time.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Black and white graphic with an image of a female student getting into an alternative transportation vehicle. Text reads "Student Privacy & Special Needs: Legal, Ethical, and Practical Guidance."
Special Needs TransportationJanuary 16, 2026

Why Student Privacy Matters in Special-Needs School Transportation

Learn more about what federal law really allows when sharing special-needs information with bus drivers and aides while protecting student privacy.

Read More →

AMF Bruns Celebrates 2025 Special-Needs School Bus Driver of the Year

Julio Ospina, a SPED driver and safety trainer at Wylie ISD in Texas, was named the national winner in AMF's annual driver award series.

Read More →
SponsoredDecember 1, 2025

Safety Leadership for School Bus Operations

The most important factor in operating as safely as possible is leadership. Learn about an innovative new training course that teaches all levels of leadership the many practices to instill a safety culture in the drivers.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Special Needs Transportationby StaffNovember 11, 2025

Your Insights Needed: 2026 Special Needs Survey Now Open

Help shape the 2026 state of Special-Needs Transportation report! School district and contractor leaders — share your notes on ridership, equipment, and staffing by Dec. 31, 2025.

Read More →
SponsoredNovember 7, 2025

eBook: Good for the Fleet, Good for the Community

Learn how modern telematics helps pupil transportation fleets operate more safely, efficiently, and cost-effectively while proving measurable value to their communities. See how real fleets are reducing idling, improving driver safety, and using video data to protect budgets and passengers alike.

Read More →

Survey: Homeless Student Identification Rises for Third Consecutive Year

New data reveals frontline perspectives on supporting some of America’s most vulnerable students, detailing transportation challenges and possible solutions.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Kala Henkensiefken poses for a photo in the driver's seat of a school bus. Text reads: "From Driver to Mentor: Kala Henkensiefken."
Managementby Elora HaynesSeptember 11, 2025

From Driver to Mentor: Kala Henkensiefken's Legacy in Special Education Transportation

For decades, Henkensiefken has been a cornerstone of special education transportation in Minnesota. As she prepares for retirement, her career reflects on the industry's evolution and her unwavering commitment to its advancement.

Read More →