HILLSBOROUGH COUNTY, Fla. — A former school bus driver here whose bus crashed into a pond in 2015 with 27 students on board has been found not guilty, WFLA reports.
As previously reported, Lenoir Sainfirmin was driving students home on Sept. 17, 2015, when he lost control of the bus and it went careening into a large pond. All the students on board made it back to shore safely with assistance from Sainfirmin, fellow students, and others who responded to the scene. Sainfirmin said that he was hitting the brakes but was unable to stop the bus. However, investigators found no problems with the bus’ brakes and the vehicle’s maintenance records didn’t show any related issues. Jim Beekman, general manager of transportation for Hillsborough County Public Schools, told SBF soon after the incident that the bus' GPS data showed that its last recorded speed was 48 mph.
SBF also previously reported that Sainfirmin had previous experience driving school buses in Washington, D.C., but was in a probationary period as a new driver with Hillsborough County Public Schools. He was let go within a week after the crash occurred. Sainfirmin’s attorney pleaded not guilty to a reckless driving charge on his behalf in January 2016.
A judge ruled on Friday that there was no evidence to support the charge, according to WFLA. The judge also said that no evidence was presented in court regarding the brakes of the speed of the bus. Video from the bus appears to show Sainfirmin continuously pumping the brakes before the crash, according to the news source.
Tanya Arja, the department manager of public relations for Hillsborough County Public Schools, told WFLA that the district denies there are problems with its fleet. (Early media reports noted that the bus that Sainfirmin was driving was over 20 years old.) Arja also told WFLA that the buses are inspected every 30 days, and that old buses are not necessarily unsafe buses.
School Bus Driver Who Crashed Into Pond Found Not Guilty
A Florida judge rules that Lenoir Sainfirmin is not guilty of a charge of reckless driving that is based on a Sept, 17, 2015 incident in which the driver crashed into a pond, citing a lack of evidence.
More Safety

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 →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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
