Man Accused of Trying to Hijack School Bus
Christopher Martinez of California allegedly steps onto the school bus with students aboard, and says he is driving to a mission, police say. He is charged with attempted carjacking.
FRESNO, Calif. — A man here was arrested after allegedly attempting to hijack a bus full of students on Monday, police told The Mercury News.
The incident occurred around 6:30 p.m. at a gas station on Highway 99 as a bus carrying 41 elementary school students was returning from a science camp in Oakhurst. Police said the driver stopped the bus at the gas station so several students could use the restroom.
Lt. Mark Hudson of Fresno Police Department told The Mercury News that as a teacher on the bus escorted the students to the gas station, Christopher Martinez, 47, stepped onto the bus and said he was driving to a mission in San Gabriel, California. Martinez grabbed the driver by the collar to pull her from the driver’s seat, and then walked from the front to the back of the bus. No one was harmed.
Martinez complied with orders from the bus driver, the gas station clerk, and the teacher to exit the bus, and then walked to the store where he was taken into custody, The Mercury News reports. Martinez was charged with attempted carjacking, and was being held on $2,500 bond, according to the news source.
To read the full story, go here.
More Safety
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 →
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 →