HERNANDO COUNTY, Fla. — A 9-year-old student suffered minor injuries after she was struck by an SUV while she was trying to board her school bus last week, WFLA reports.
Investigators told the news source that on March 2 at 7:56 a.m., Laura Ann Demers was driving an SUV westbound on the roadway in the outside lane. She moved to the inside lane to avoid a vehicle that had just turned onto the road, and once she was in the inside lane, she saw a stopped vehicle in that lane, and moved back into the outside lane.
Meanwhile, a Hernando County School District bus was in the outside lane, loading students to take them to school. Demers tried to stop and lost control of her vehicle, which traveled onto the north shoulder of the road, hit the girl, and then stopped in a ditch, according to WFLA.
The girl suffered minor injuries and was airlifted to the hospital. Demers was ticketed for careless driving, the news source reports.
To read the full story, go here.
Student Struck by Car While Trying to Board School Bus
A 9-year-old girl in Florida was struck by an SUV and suffered minor injuries when the motorist switched into the same lane as the school bus to avoid a stopped vehicle in the other lane, tried to stop, and lost control of her car.
More Safety

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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
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 →
