MENU
SEARCHPolice say the 9-year-old runs alongside her bus as it drives away, and then she runs into the road and is hit by a pickup truck.
Authorities said a 9-year-old student in Salem, Oregon, ran alongside her bus as it drove away, and then she ran into the road and was hit by a white pickup truck. Photo courtesy Marion County Sheriff's Office
SALEM, Ore. — A second grader was injured when she was struck by a truck near her school bus stop here on Tuesday, authorities said.
Deputies responded to the scene at about 4 p.m. According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, the 9-year-old girl had exited the bus at her stop and then started to run alongside the bus as it was driving away.
“As the bus passed her, she immediately turned and ran into the roadway, where she was struck by an oncoming white Dodge pickup driven by 20-year-old Salem resident Lisa Dela Cruz,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a press release.
The school bus driver stopped and assisted deputies when they arrived on scene. The girl, an elementary student in Salem-Keizer Public Schools, reportedly suffered injuries that were not life-threatening and was taken by ambulance to a hospital for further evaluation.
According to the Marion County Sheriff's Office, Cruz told deputies that the brakes were failing on the truck and needed to be replaced. She was cited for driving outside her license restrictions and for unsafe vehicle operation.
The Sheriff’s Office said that no further information was currently available on the incident, but the press release included a related safety message.
“As school draws to an end and summer begins, today’s crash is a reminder to always be aware of our surroundings and drive vigilant,” the Sheriff’s Office said. “Small children can be unpredictable, so please use caution while driving our Marion County roadways.”
The alternative transportation provider’s 2025 Safety Report highlights 99.7% incident-free rides, 130 million safe miles, and more.
Read More →
Searching for the right equipment, technology, or services for your school transportation program? This industry guide brings together manufacturers and suppliers across the entire school bus market, all in one place. Download it to find the partners who can help move your operation forward.
Read More →
Child Safety Network appointed psychology researcher Michael C. Hout, Ph.D., to lead a study examining why drivers illegally pass stopped school buses.
Read More →
Investigators reported a remote assistance error allowed a Waymo driverless vehicle to illegally pass a stopped school bus in Austin.
Read More →
See how a new 50-state roadmap outlines 69 strategies for districts, law enforcement, and policymakers to reduce the 39 million illegal school bus passings reported each year.
Read More →
Recently, an Iowa student died after falling under a school bus, while 14 Oklahoma students were injured days later when a semi-truck rear-ended their bus.
Read More →
Selecting a fleet technology partner can be complex, especially with evolving operational demands and limited resources. This white paper outlines seven key criteria to help school transportation leaders evaluate options and align technology with their needs. It offers a practical framework to support more informed decision-making.
Read More →
When school bus communication systems fail, the consequences extend far beyond equipment repairs. Downtime can increase safety risks, strain dispatch operations, and erode driver confidence. Explore how proactive radio lifecycle management and managed services are reducing disruptions, supporting driver retention, and delivering predictable budgeting for school transportation fleets.
Read More →
EverDriven has launched a new safety council aimed at standardizing and strengthening student transportation practices across all states it operates in.
Read More →
The OEM's three-week campaign during National School Bus Safety Week has awarded nearly $6,000 to Bryan County Schools to support increasing student safety around the bus.
Read More →
