Come Along For The Route: Changes and Tragedies
SBF Incident Report Roundup - June 20, 2022
In this collection of recent news about legal issues and accidents related to pupil transportation: - Parents File Lawsuit in New Mexico Bus Collision - Maryland School Bus Crash Leaves Several Hurt - Former Florida Bus Driver Facing DUI Charges Apparently Attends Court Impaired - New York Worker Hurt Refilling Propane-Fueled School Bus - Montana Schools Superintendent Accused of Illegal Passing

Photo: Canva
Parents File Lawsuit in New Mexico Bus Collision
A speeding Ford Mustang smashed into the side of an Albuquerque Public Schools bus in February, knocking the vehicle on its side and injuring five people. Now, parents of three children hurt aboard the bus are suing the school district, the Mustang’s driver, and his insurance company, Geico, according to The Albuquerque Journal. The suit was filed in New Mexico’s 2nd Judicial District Court. Mario Perez, 50, was charged with 17 counts of child abuse. He pleaded not guilty to the charges on June 6.
Maryland School Bus Crash Leaves Several Hurt
Four students, the driver, and a bus aide were among the injured in a June 14 accident involving an Anne Arundel County school bus in Maryland, according to WTOP News. The bus, traveling from Meade Middle School, carried 23 people that afternoon before colliding with two other vehicles, going off the road, and striking a tree.
Former Florida Bus Driver Facing DUI Charges Apparently Attends Court Impaired
Mark McNeil, facing charges of child neglect and driving under the influence for allegedly transporting 40 students on a Florida school bus while drunk, told a judge he was impaired by alcohol after showing up more than two hours late to a court hearing. McNeil, appearing in a Flagler County courtroom on June 13, was in court for a plea hearing, according to FOX 35. He’s been charged with 14 counts of felony child neglect stemming from an incident in February when police say he was four times the legal limit when he climbed onto someone else’s school bus to drive his route.
Mark McNeil is accused of driving a Flagler County school bus drunk with 40 students on it. He showed up 2.5 hours late to his plea hearing today and admitted he was impaired & was sorry for what he did. He was put in handcuffs & will be tested for drugs/alcohol. @fox35orlandopic.twitter.com/IO7uknf5L1
— Stephanie Buffamonte (@StephBuffamonte) June 13, 2022
New York Worker Hurt Refilling Propane-Fueled School Bus
A worker refilling school buses with liquid propane gas on June 9 suffered substantial injuries from cryogenic burns after the hose mechanism came unhooked and doused the man with LPG, according to The Mid-Hudson News. He was fueling vehicles for Arlington Central School District in New York when the hose detached. The gas in liquid form is about 240 degrees below zero.
Montana Schools Superintendent Accused of Illegal Passing
Elsie Arntzen, Montana’s State Superintendent of Public Instruction, on May 19 was accused of illegally passing a school bus with its stop arm extended, according to The Montana Free Press. A report filed with the Helena Police Department indicates that a red Chevrolet Colorado pickup truck passed the bus while children were loading onto the bus. The bus driver told investigators that he recognized Arntzen behind the wheel. On June 3, the newspaper reported, Arntzen pleaded no contest in Helena Municipal Court. She was fined $500, with $400 suspended.
More Safety

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The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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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.
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