School Bus Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

No New Trial for Motorist in Hit-and-Run School Bus Crash

The Pennsylvania motorist will not receive a new trial after he was convicted in a crash that caused a school bus carrying more than a dozen students to tip over.

Sadiah Thompson
Sadiah ThompsonAssistant Editor
April 17, 2019
No New Trial for Motorist in Hit-and-Run School Bus Crash

James Irvin III will not receive a new trial after he was convicted in a crash that caused a school bus carrying more than a dozen students to tip over. Photo courtesy Lancaster County district attorney's office

2 min to read


James Irvin III will not receive a new trial after he was convicted in a crash that caused a school bus carrying more than a dozen students to tip over. Photo courtesy Lancaster County district attorney's office

LANCASTER, Pa. — A motorist here will not receive a new trial after he was convicted in a hit-and-run crash that caused a school bus carrying more than a dozen students to tip over two years ago.

As SBFpreviously reported, James Irvin III was sentenced in August 2018 to a prison term of five to 20 years. He was convicted of 68 charges, including aggravated assault and hit-and-run, in connection with the May 2017 crash in East Lampeter Township.

Ad Loading...

Judge Howard Kinsley reportedly said that Irvin showed “no regard” for anyone on the road when he drove 71 mph, while accelerating, during an illegal pass that caused a chain-reaction crash, in which a school bus with 14 Lancaster Mennonite School students tipped onto its side. A 6-year-old student was pinned under the bus and sustained a fractured clavicle, a lacerated spleen, and rib fractures, while another student, 16, sustained a fractured vertebra, according to a news release from the district attorney’s office.

On Monday, the Pennsylvania Superior Court denied Irvin’s request for a new trial, and wrote in a 10-page opinion report, according to the district attorney's office, that if it weren’t for Irvin’s reckless driving and illegal passing, none of the injuries would have happened.

The court also wrote in the report that Irvin “put his punctuality ahead of the safety of everyone else on the road that day,” and knew of the risk of collision and potential serious injury when he broke the speed limit by 30 mph and passed in an opposing traffic lane while attempting to overtake an 86-foot long tractor-trailer. Irvin, however, claimed that there wasn’t enough evidence to support a conviction of aggravated assault.

More Safety

Graphic showing a yellow school bus behind a shattered-glass effect with the text “Multi-Vehicle Crash in FL Takes 2 Lives” and the date October 5, 2026.
Safety•by Staff and News Reports•October 6, 2026

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 →
Close-up of an extended red stop arm with flashing lights on the side of a yellow school bus.
Safety•by Elora Haynes•September 21, 2026

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 →
Graphic showing a yellow school crossing sign and blurred school bus with the headline, “The Back-to-School Traffic Effect.”
Safety•by Amanda Huggett•September 18, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Geotab fleet safety platform showing driver coaching data and video of driving events alongside a Geotab vehicle camera.
Technology•by News/Media Release•September 17, 2026

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 →
School Bus Fleet’s The Route graphic featuring two people alongside the text, “The Secret to Better Bus Driver Training (It’s Not the Curriculum),” sponsored by IC Bus.
Sponsored•by Amanda Huggett•September 15, 2026

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 →
Graphic showing a yellow school bus behind a shattered-glass effect with the text, “Fatal Accident in a Bus Lot & Students Struck Near Bus Stops, Sept. 8–9, 2026.”
Safety•by Staff and News Reports•September 13, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
A female school bus driver in bus driver's seat speaking on radio with an inset of female with headphones looking at two monitors and buses in the background
Safety•September 8, 2026

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 →
Firefighters spray water on a smoking Marietta City Schools school bus during a fire response drill.
Safety•by Amanda Huggett•September 8, 2026

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 →
Graphic promoting Geotab’s new fleet investigation tool, featuring a screenshot of the MyGeotab platform showing an incident timeline, vehicle activity, and mapped route data.
Safety•by News/Media Release•September 1, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Student-created poster titled “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” shows a yellow school bus at a crosswalk, students waiting nearby, and school bus safety reminders about stopping, school zones, safe pickup and drop-off, and buckling up.
Safety•by News/Media Release•August 31, 2026

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 →