NAVARRE, Fla. — A school bus driver here was charged with reckless driving last week after a student was allegedly dragged by the bus for about 300 feet after her backpack got caught in the doors, WEAR reports.
The Florida Highway Patrol stated that the incident occurred on Thursday at about 2:10 p.m., according to the news source. The bus driver, Teresa Samo, was dropping off students when a backpack that one of the girls exiting the bus was wearing got stuck in the doors as they were closing. A report from the Highway Patrol added that Samo reportedly didn’t notice at first that the girl was caught in the doors and began driving away, but stopped once she did notice her, the news source reports.
The girl suffered minor injuries and wasn’t taken to the hospital, state troopers told WEAR.
WEAR previously reported that the contractor that Samo works for is Student Transportation of America. Doug Coupe, the director of communications for the school bus company, sent a statement to the news source, which said in part that the company is reviewing the incident and is working with the school district and law enforcement to assist with the investigation.
Student Dragged by School Bus, Driver Charged
The Florida bus driver is charged with reckless driving after a student is allegedly dragged by the bus for about 300 feet after her backpack got caught in the bus doors.
More Safety

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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
Transportant Debuts First Full-Color Stop Arm Camera for School Buses
Transportant introduced a next-generation stop arm camera designed to improve image quality and reliability for documenting illegal school bus passings.
Read More →3 New Ways Fleet Software Pays: ROI opportunities for modern fleet managers
Keeping buses safe, reliable, and on schedule requires more than manual processes. This eBook explores how modern fleet software supports school transportation teams with automated maintenance scheduling, smarter video safety tools, and integrated data systems. Discover practical ways fleets are reducing breakdowns, improving safety, and saving valuable staff time.
Read More →
New Mexico District Receives $2.7M Grant to Expand Walking School Bus Programs
See how a federal grant will help Albuquerque Public Schools expand supervised walking routes and improve student safety.
Read More →
Florida Inventor Creates Retractable 10-Foot Stop-Arm
A newly developed school bus safety device introduces a retractable barrier designed to deter illegal passing during student loading and unloading.
Read More →
