SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Police Seek Driver Who Passed School Bus on Passenger Side

In Massachusetts, a truck drives by a stopped bus on the right before students disembark. Police are working to identify the offender.

Thomas McMahon
Thomas McMahonExecutive Editor
May 1, 2018
Police Seek Driver Who Passed School Bus on Passenger Side

No one was injured when a truck drove by a stopped bus in Westminster, Massachusetts, but police are working to identify the offender. Image from video released by Westminster Police Department

2 min to read


No one was injured when a truck drove by a stopped bus in Westminster, Massachusetts, but police are working to identify the offender. Image from video released by Westminster Police Department

WESTMINSTER, Mass. — Police here are searching for a vehicle that passed a stopped school bus on the right side last week.

The incident, which took place on Thursday just after 3 p.m., was captured on video by a surveillance camera near the bus stop. Lt. Mike McDonald of the Westminster Police Department told SBF on Tuesday that the bus was from Ashburnham Westminster Regional School District.

Ad Loading...

In the footage, the Type D school bus can be seen rolling up to a stop on a two-lane road, which police said has a posted speed limit of 35 mph. Shortly after the bus comes to a halt, a pickup truck can be seen driving by on the right-hand side of the bus, where passengers load and unload.

McDonald told SBF that the bus had its red lights flashing when the truck passed, but the students had not yet stepped off of the bus.

"They were just starting to stand up from their seats and were going for the door when it all went down," he said. No one was injured in the incident.

In a statement on Facebook, the Westminster Police Department said that the road has a full “breakdown lane” on each side, and the driver of the bus “appropriately stopped in the single travel lane at the bus stop.”

“The bus should never have been passed on the right either way, lights or no lights,” police said on Facebook.

Ad Loading...

In its investigation of the incident, the Westminster Police Department shared the surveillance footage on Facebook on Sunday and asked for the public’s help in identifying the vehicle and its driver.

On Tuesday, McDonald said that the department had determined who the truck belongs to, and they were working to establish who was driving it during the incident. 

Meanwhile, the Westminster Police Department also addressed the broader issue of school bus stop-arm running.

“Reducing the incidence of illegal passing of stopped school buses is easier said than done,” police said in the Facebook post. “The solution to this complex problem requires the involvement and cooperation of many groups (motorists, school bus drivers, law enforcement officers, prosecutors, and the court) to make sure the law is obeyed, violations are reported, and the law is enforced.”

Here’s the video of last week's passing incident:

More Safety

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 →
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 →
Ad Loading...
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 →
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 →
Ad Loading...
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 →
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 →
Ad Loading...
A blue and white graphic with text reading "2026 Safety & Operations Report" with an image of the cover of the report.
Safetyby StaffMay 4, 2026

Does Reliable School Transportation Boost Attendance? EverDriven’s Data Says Yes

The new data shows 99.99% incident-free trips and strong on-time performance, reinforcing how dependable transportation, especially for vulnerable student populations, can help districts combat chronic absenteeism.

Read More →