Judge: Fatal crash points to 'deficiencies' in bus safety, driver training
Alberta Provincial Court Judge Bruce Fraser says as much, and makes recommendations about these issues, in his report on an October 2007 school bus accident that killed a 9-year-old girl. Sleeping pills and anti-depressants were at low levels in bus driver Louise Rogers' system on the day of the accident.
CALGARY, Alberta — An inquiry by Alberta Provincial Court Judge Bruce Fraser into the death of a 9-year-old girl in a 2007 school bus crash found "deficiencies" in school bus safety and driver training.
Fraser made recommendations in his report, released on Thursday, for better training, mental health screening and random drug tests, The Edmonton Journal reports.
According to Fraser's report, Kathelynn Occena's death could not have been prevented, as it is unknown why bus driver Louise Rogers veered into a parked gravel truck on Oct. 18, 2007, then careened into a power pole. The crash killed Kathelynn and seriously injured three children, including the girl's younger sister.
The fatality inquiry heard much evidence on Rogers' mental health. In the report, Fraser wrote that there was no indication that she crashed intentionally.
Prior to the crash, Rogers had been hospitalized for mental health issues. She was prescribed sleeping pills and anti-depressants, although they were at low levels in her system on the day of the accident.
Fraser recommended that drivers disclose any health issues to their employer and submit a report from a medical professional if they take off work for health issues.
Fraser's other recommendations included that:
∙ Drivers submit to random drug testing
∙ Hand-held devices be banned in buses
∙ Bus companies consider installing video surveillance equipment in buses
∙ Potential candidates be required to pass a medical exam
∙ Companies adopt Alberta Transportation hiring recommendations, including defensive driving courses
More Safety

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 →
Geotab Expands Fleet Safety Tools With Video Coaching, Risk Insights
New safety and video capabilities aim to help fleet managers assess risk, support drivers, and take targeted action through video coaching, red-light violation detection, and more.
Read More →
How to Build a Better School Bus Driver Training Program
Is it time to strengthen your driver training? Here’s how to pick the right talent and improve recruitment, retention, and safety. This video is brought to you by IC Bus.
Read More →
Recent School Bus Accidents Leave 2 Dead, 2 Injured
Four school bus crashes in Florida, Illinois, and Georgia highlight risks in transportation lots, at bus stops, and during student loading and unloading.
Read More →
When Every Second Matters, Clarity Keeps Routes Moving
From routine delays to urgent incidents, strong communication practices help drivers, dispatchers, schools, and families respond with confidence.
Read More →
What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help
School bus fires are rare but can be devastating. Learn how advances in fire suppression and asset protection help fleets detect fires earlier, reduce damage, and improve safety.
Read More →
Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents
Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.
Read More →
Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest
Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.
Read More →
Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty
With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.
Read More →
Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System
The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.
Read More →

