School Bus Driver Indicted in Traffic Death in Tennessee
April Christopher faces a misdemeanor charge for a 2016 crash in which she made a left turn and struck an oncoming vehicle, investigators say.
SHELBY COUNTY, Tenn. — A school bus driver here faces a misdemeanor charge stemming from a 2016 crash in which another driver died.
Shelby County’s district attorney general, Amy Weirich, announced the indictment in a press release on Thursday.
The incident took place on the morning of Sept. 7, 2016, when April Christopher, 23, was driving a Durham School Services bus. According to investigators, Christopher made a left turn and struck an oncoming vehicle, a 2006 Cadillac driven by Akisha Boddie, 38.
The impact reportedly caused the Cadillac to hit a utility pole at the corner of the intersection, killing the driver.
Christopher was ticketed after the crash. Now, nearly two years later, she has been indicted on a misdemeanor charge of failure to yield resulting in death.
The Commercial Appeal reported that there were no students on the school bus at the time of the crash, and Christopher was not injured.
According to the newspaper, the Cadillac driver, Boddie, was a mother of five. Her sister-in-law said that she had just dropped off her children at school and was headed to work.
A Memphis Police Department spokesman told The Commercial Appeal that the Cadillac hit the right rear corner of the school bus, then spun and hit the utility pole. The crash left Boddie trapped in the mangled car, and witnesses ran to help her.
“We checked her pulse, but she was gone,” Mary Allen, a nursing student, told The Commercial Appeal. “It is awful and so sad for her family.”
More Safety

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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
