SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Teen who crashed into school bus under investigation for DUI

Blood samples have been taken from the driver of a BMW and his two passengers to determine if they had been using drugs or alcohol prior to fatally striking a pedestrian and crashing into the back of a school bus on Monday. A manslaughter charge is likely to be pursued against the driver if he is found to have been under the influence.

October 26, 2010
2 min to read


LOS ANGELES — The teenage driver of a BMW who ran a red light in the neighborhood of Boyle Heights on Monday, fatally striking a pedestrian and then crashing into the back of a school bus, is being investigated for being under the influence of drugs or alcohol during the incident. The two teenage passengers who were in the car are also under investigation.

California Highway Patrol officer John Harris told the Los Angeles Times that the teens fled the scene on foot after crashing into the bus. Two of the boys were grabbed by nearby construction workers while the third was arrested when he turned up at a hospital with injuries from the collision.

According to law enforcement sources, the boys in the car may have been using narcotics or sniffing glue before the collision. Blood samples were taken from the suspects to determine if they had been using drugs or alcohol, the Los Angeles Times reports.

A manslaughter charge is likely to be pursued against the driver if he is found to have been under the influence.

Fifty students were on the overturned bus. Eighteen students were taken to the hospital and treated for minor injuries. The bus driver remained in the hospital in fair condition on Tuesday morning and at least three students were still in the hospital with minor injuries, KABC reports.

School counselors and Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa rode the bus with the students on Tuesday to send the message that it's still safe to take the bus to school.

"They may be feeling anxiety, anger, some manifestation of trauma, and that's normal in situations like this," Villaraigosa told the news source.

More Safety

The 5th-generation Waymo Driver on the all-electric Jaguar I-PACE.
Safetyby StaffMarch 5, 2026

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 →
The side of a school bus with a retracted stop signal.
Safetyby Elora HaynesMarch 4, 2026

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 →
A school bus graphic with text reading "Iowa Student Killed, 14 Injured in Oklahoma Bus Crash."
Safetyby StaffMarch 3, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
school bus driver
SponsoredMarch 2, 2026

7 Key Criteria for Choosing a School Bus Fleet Technology Partner

Download this white paper for clear guidance on evaluating your organization’s needs and selecting a partner who delivers long-term value.

Read More →
Graphic of a yellow school bus above the headline “The Real Cost of Downtime,” with icons illustrating overtime costs, frustrated parents and administrators, repair expenses, and route delays, emphasizing the operational and financial impact of communication failures in school transportation fleets.
SponsoredMarch 2, 2026

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 →
Graphic showing the EverDriven logo and “SafeOps Council Launches” text over an image of a vehicle driving on a curved road, with School Bus Fleet branding in the corner.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseFebruary 25, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
a photo of a school bus driving down a suburban street with houses in the background and green grass pictured
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseFebruary 23, 2026

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 →
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 →
Ad Loading...
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 →