SchoolBus logo in red and orange
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Settlement reached in case of man striking girl boarding school bus

An $81,000 settlement was approved by a judge in North Carolina in a case involving a motorist who struck a girl as she was crossing the street to board the bus.

August 20, 2015
2 min to read


FORSYTH COUNTY, N.C. — An $81,000 settlement was approved on Monday by a judge here in a case involving a motorist who struck a girl as she was crossing the street to board a school bus, Winston-Salem Journal reports.

On Jan. 7, 2013, second-grader Kelly Seanee Smith was hit by a car driven by Edward Rashad Lee Fulks, then 17; the mirror on Fulks’ car hit Smith in the face and neck. She did not suffer serious injuries, according to Winston-Salem Journal. Fulks pleaded guilty in November 2013 to felony hit-and-run with injury, felony passing a stopped school bus and misdemeanor driving without a license, the newspaper reports. He received a suspended sentence of six to 17 months and was put on supervised probation for 24 months.

Kelly’s father, Kerry Smith Sr., filed a lawsuit last year against Fulks and the owner of the car Fulks was driving, according to Winston-Salem Journal. His attorney said the girl’s jaw was injured, and medical bills have come close to $20,000. Attorneys in the case went into mediation and agreed on the settlement, which will go toward medical bills, attorney fees, Kelly’s college education, and about $33,000 for an annuity for her, according to the newspaper.

Kerry Smith Sr. told Winston-Salem Journal that he had complained many times before the accident about the bus stop near his house being dangerous, and that in November 2013, school officials moved the stop so that it was in front of his house and his children wouldn’t have to cross the street to board the bus.

To read the full story, go here.

More Safety

Kids need more from a driverless ride graphic comparing “Getting from A to B” vs “Student Transportation,” with a Waymo-style autonomous car image and School Bus Fleet logo.
SafetyFebruary 11, 2026

Autonomous Vehicles Aren’t Built for Student Transportation [Op-Ed]

Driverless cars may feel the future, but student transportation requires more than navigation. Here’s why it demands human judgment, empathy, and oversight.

Read More →
Graphic showing the front of a yellow school bus with cracked-glass overlay and headline reading “Fatal School Bus Hit & Run in New York,” dated February 5, 2026, alongside the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsFebruary 10, 2026

New York Girl Killed by School Bus Hit & Run

An 11-year-old in Brooklyn was killed crossing the street. Meanwhile, the school bus driver faces misdemeanor charges after he left the scene.

Read More →
2026 Disaster Response Guide Call for Experts is Open.
Safetyby StaffFebruary 9, 2026

Disaster Readiness Starts Before the Storm [Call for Experts]

The 2026 Disaster Response Guide is officially underway, and we’re now opening a Call for Insights and Experts.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
School Transportation
SponsoredFebruary 9, 2026

How Supplemental Transportation Helps Close Driver Gaps

Ongoing driver shortages nationwide are forcing tough transportation decisions. See how districts are using supplemental transportation to maintain coverage for high-needs students.

Read More →
Fatal School Bus Accident in New York graphic dated Jan. 29, 2026, showing a close-up of a yellow school bus with cracked-glass overlay and School Bus Fleet logo.
Safetyby StaffFebruary 3, 2026

New York 5-Year-Old Killed by School Bus, Investigation Ongoing

A Rockland County child was struck by their school bus late last week. Here's what we know so far about this and other fatalities and injuries in the area over the years.

Read More →
A red, orange and yellow graphic with anti-pinch door sensor products and text reading "Maine's New Mandate: Anti-Pinch-Sensors & Bus Safety."
Safetyby Elora HaynesJanuary 29, 2026

Prevent School Bus Dragging Incidents: Anti-Pinch Door Sensors and Maine’s New Mandate

As Maine becomes one of the first states to require anti-pinch door sensors on new school buses, manufacturers like Mayser offer a look at how the technology works and why it's a critical fail-safe.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
SponsoredJanuary 29, 2026

8 Ways To Simplify and Streamline School Bus Fleet Operations

What if your fleet technology actually worked together? Learn eight practical strategies to integrate multiple systems into one platform, unlocking clearer insights, stronger safety standards, and smoother daily operations.

Read More →
an illustration of a survey on a mobile phone with a hand on it, and the words Survey Says on it
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseJanuary 28, 2026

Survey: Most Parents Want Automated Enforcement on School Buses

A recent Verra Mobility survey reports that 82% of parents support safety cameras to penalize stop-arm violators and 70% favor automated enforcement in school zones.

Read More →
Image of an extended stop-arm with text reading "School Bus Safety: Funding Provides Bus Upgrades Across Ohio."
Safetyby StaffJanuary 27, 2026

State Grant Program Advances School Bus Safety Upgrades Across Ohio

$10 million in state grants will fund safety upgrades and new features on school buses serving students across the Buckeye State.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
A white Waymo vehicle waits at a crosswalk as a family crosses.
Safetyby StaffJanuary 26, 2026

Waymo Scrutiny Intensifies as NTSB Launches Investigation

After complications in multiple cities when self-driving taxis failed to stop for school buses, the NTSB joins NHTSA in a probe to determine what's behind the tech and related safety concerns.

Read More →