MENU
SEARCHIn Massachusetts, a truck drives by a stopped bus on the right before students disembark. Police are working to identify the offender.
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.
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.
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:
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 →
Driver shortages, safety expectations, and staffing limits define student transportation in 2026. New survey data shows how fleet leaders are responding.
Read More →
The federal agency's report asks NHTSA to require all new school buses to be equipped with vehicle-integrated alcohol detection systems and passenger lap-shoulder belts.
Read More →
Student transportation teams are being asked to do more with less, facing driver shortages, rising costs, and increasing safety expectations. This report uncovers how fleets are adapting, where technology is making the biggest impact, and why student ridership tracking is emerging as a top priority. Download the report to explore the key trends shaping 2026 and what they mean for your operation.
Read More →
A Carroll County accident claimed the lives of two students and injured over a dozen others on a March 27 field trip for eighth graders at Clarksville-Montgomery County. A preliminary report adds new information to the story.
Read More →
From driver shortage solutions in Tennessee and rural connectivity debates in Utah to new safety laws in Wisconsin and ongoing electric bus mandate discussions in New York and Connecticut, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
Waymo’s self-driving vehicles are under fire again after repeated school bus passing violations, raising questions about safety, remote operators, and regulation.
Read More →
Distracted driving continues to pose serious risks in school zones, with new data and driver insights highlighting ongoing concerns and potential solutions to improve student and roadway safety.
Read More →
A former airline pilot has stepped into a new role at the independent federal agency, but where does he stand on issues like seat belts on school buses? Here’s what he’s said.
Read More →
Two recent close calls at railroad crossings, a train clipping a bus and a rear-end crash, highlight why vigilance and training still matter. Here’s what happened and what to tell your own drivers.
Read More →
