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

An orange and white graphic with the cover of HopSkipDrive's 2025 Safety Report and text reading "Seventh Annual Safety Report."
Safetyby StaffMarch 18, 2026

What’s Behind HopSkipDrive’s Near-Perfect Safety Record in 2025?

The alternative transportation provider’s 2025 Safety Report highlights 99.7% incident-free rides, 130 million safe miles, and more.

Read More →
Buyers Guide and Directory thumbnail
SponsoredMarch 13, 2026

2026 School Bus Fleet Vendor Directory & Buyer's Guide

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 →
Portrait of Michael C. Hout, Ph.D., assistant dean and psychology professor at New Mexico State University, featured in a Child Safety Network leadership announcement graphic.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseMarch 6, 2026

Child Safety Network Taps Dr. Michael C. Hout to Combat School Bus Stop-Arm Runners

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 →
Ad Loading...
The 5th-generation Waymo Driver on the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE.
Safetyby StaffMarch 5, 2026

NTSB Determines Human Error Led to Waymo’s Illegal School Bus Passing

Investigators reported a remote assistance error allowed a Waymo driverless vehicle to illegally pass a stopped school bus in Austin.

Read More →
The side of a school bus with a retracted stop signal.
Safetyby Elora HaynesMarch 4, 2026

National Action Plan Aims to End Illegal School Bus Passings Across the U.S.

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 →
A school bus graphic with text reading "Iowa Student Killed, 14 Injured in Oklahoma Bus Crash."
Safetyby StaffMarch 3, 2026

11-Year-Old Student Dies After Falling Under School Bus

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 →
Ad Loading...
school bus driver
SponsoredMarch 2, 2026

7 Key Criteria for Choosing a School Bus Fleet Technology Partner

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 →
Graphic of a yellow school bus above the headline “The Real Cost of Downtime,” with icons illustrating overtime costs, frustrated parents and administrators, repair expenses, and route delays, emphasizing the operational and financial impact of communication failures in school transportation fleets.
SponsoredMarch 2, 2026

The Real Cost of Bus Fleet Downtime

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 →
Graphic showing the EverDriven logo and “SafeOps Council Launches” text over an image of a vehicle driving on a curved road, with School Bus Fleet branding in the corner.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseFebruary 25, 2026

EverDriven Launches New Council to Standardize Safety Across 36 States

EverDriven has launched a new safety council aimed at standardizing and strengthening student transportation practices across all states it operates in.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
a photo of a school bus driving down a suburban street with houses in the background and green grass pictured
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseFebruary 23, 2026

Thomas Built Buses Awards “If You Pass” Safety Campaign Funds to Ga. District

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 →