SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Man Crashes into 2 School Buses in 3 Months

Brian Downing of Oklahoma ran a red light and crashed into a school bus in February and was cited. Three months later, he hits a special-needs school bus.

May 10, 2016
1 min to read


GUTHRIE, Okla. — In two separate incidents that occurred exactly three months apart, a man here has crashed into two school buses, KFOR reports.

On May 4, Brian Downing crashed a rental truck into a special-needs school bus while it was picking up a student, according to the news source. Downing left the scene but was stopped by a police officer. A police report states that Downing was found with syringes, lighters, and rubber bands “used to tie off one’s arm,” according to KFOR. He was arrested and taken to the hospital before he was booked into jail. No one was injured in the crash.

The superintendent of Guthrie Public Schools told the news source that the crash knocked off part of a reflector, and that costs will be minimal.

Three months before last week’s crash, Downing ran a red light and hit a school bus that was transporting approximately 20 students, KFOR reports. No students were injured. Downing’s truck was damaged, and he received a citation for the crash, which caused more than $5,400 in damage to the bus, according to the news source.

Lt. Gary Haddock told KFOR that it doesn’t appear that Downing is targeting school buses, and that Downing said he had fallen asleep at the wheel before the most recent crash.

To read the full story, go here.

More Safety

zonar system image
SponsoredJune 22, 2026

The Driver Shortage Playbook

How student transportation fleets are hiring, retaining and adapting .

Read More →
Promotional graphic for a new Pro-Vision AI camera system. The image shows a monitor displaying camera views with AI object detection overlays, along with multiple cameras and recording hardware. Text reads "New Product," "Pro-Vision," and "Visibly Better." School Bus Fleet logo appears in the lower-right corner.
SafetyJune 11, 2026

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 →
A New York school bus in the street.
Safetyby Elora HaynesJune 9, 2026

N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students

New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Graphic for an opinion article on illegal school bus passing. A school bus with its stop arm extended is stopped as children cross the street, while a black SUV drives past. Headline reads, “America’s School Bus Blind Spot.” School Bus Fleet branding appears in the corner.
SafetyJune 8, 2026

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 →
A black, white, and red graphic with an image of a school bus on a New York street and text reading "Legislative Roundup May 2026."
Safetyby Elora HaynesMay 29, 2026

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 →
hopskipdrive whitepaper
SponsoredMay 26, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Emergency response personnel assist participants evacuating through the rear emergency door of a yellow school bus during a hands-on safety training exercise at Prosper ISD. Smoke fills the bus interior as responders demonstrate emergency evacuation procedures.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseMay 21, 2026

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 →
BusPatrol cameras on the side of a school bus.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsMay 6, 2026

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 →
A group of people in business attire pose for a photo in front of a school bus, with text reading "Legislative Roundup: May 2026."
Safetyby Elora HaynesMay 6, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Graphic with part of a school bus and text reading "Fatal Accident in Brooklyn."
Safetyby StaffMay 5, 2026

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 →