School Bus Fleet
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

Unmarked School Bus Found to Be on Official Business

The Michigan school bus that was trying to pick up students and had been reported as suspicious has been discovered to have been driving a route for a charter school.

Nicole Schlosser
Nicole SchlosserFormer Executive Editor
October 20, 2017
2 min to read


YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A school bus traveling in the area on Thursday that was reported as suspicious has since been discovered to have been driving a route for a charter school, police said.

As previously reported, a school bus that was believed to have a school district’s name covered by spray paint was trying to pick up students at a bus stop. When a parent who was waiting there with the students wouldn’t let them board, the driver reportedly sped off. Two similar sightings were reported soon after.

However, on Thursday afternoon, deputies located the bus and confirmed that it belongs to a transportation company, according to a Nixle alert from the Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office. (Police had received a tip to that effect, MLive reports.) The Sheriff’s Office also confirmed in the alert that the route and timing of the bus arriving at stops was consistent with the job it was contracted to perform.

Van Buren Public Schools, which had alerted parents and other school districts about the incident, posted an update on its website on Thursday afternoon, stating that it was notified by the Sheriff’s Office that the unmarked bus was a new transportation provider for another school, and that the incident was not an abduction scenario.

Police told MLive that the bus was driving an official route for a charter school. K. Crockett, the principal of the school, told the news source that someone filed a false report about the bus luring students, and that the bus has been picking up students regularly since the first day of school. Crockett also told MLive that she didn’t know whether the name of the company had been covered with paint. She declined to name the bus company, but said that it had provided transportation for the students of the charter school for two years.

More Safety

Four women participate in a council meeting around a wooden conference table, with one speaking while the others listen. Laptops, notebooks, and drinks sit on the table.
Safety•by News/Media Release•October 23, 2026

HopSkipDrive Reports Progress on Safety Advisory Council

More than a year after forming the council, independent safety experts have helped shape new rider-safety features and policy progress, with a new goal to address rider behavior.

Read More →
School Bus Fleet graphic showing students boarding a yellow school bus with the headline “Senate Recognized National School Bus Safety Month for 13th Year.”
Safety•by Elora Haynes•October 22, 2026

What the 2026 National School Bus Safety Month Resolution Means for Student Transportation

The bipartisan resolution highlights illegal school bus passing, student safety during loading and unloading, and the need for driver training and public education.

Read More →
Close-up of a stop-arm enforcement camera mounted on a yellow school bus, with the headline “When Enforcement Drives Safety” and the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safety•by Amanda Huggett•October 20, 2026

School Bus Stop-Arm Violations Decline 53% Across Verra Mobility Programs

Verra Mobility shares how school bus stop-arm cameras and school zone safety programs are changing driver behavior, reducing violations, and protecting students.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Yellow school bus lying on its side after a rollover crash, with the headline “After the Crash” and subtitle “What to Do & What Matters Most,” alongside the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safety•October 20, 2026

Most Bus Crashes Aren’t Your Fault. Here’s How to Prove It.

A guide for what to do in between a school bus crash and a claim: what to preserve, who to notify, and how to keep the facts available when they matter.

Read More →
School Bus Fleet graphic showing a school bus safety inspection in the background, with the headline “2026 National School Bus Safety Week” in large orange and white lettering.
Safety•by Elora Haynes•October 19, 2026

National School Bus Safety Week 2026: Tips, Toolkits & Resources to Keep Students Safe

School bus safety takes more than awareness. Explore expert tips, enforcement strategies, and free resources to help protect students on every ride.

Read More →
Graphic showing a yellow school bus behind a shattered-glass effect with the text “Multi-Vehicle Crash in FL Takes 2 Lives” and the date October 5, 2026.
Safety•by Staff and News Reports•October 6, 2026

2 Killed, Dozens Injured in Florida School Bus Crash

A multi-vehicle collision caused a Polk County school bus carrying 37 students to overturn on its way to Winter Haven High School.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Close-up of an extended red stop arm with flashing lights on the side of a yellow school bus.
Safety•by Elora Haynes•September 21, 2026

Illegal School Bus Passing Drops 24% in New York Districts

With fewer than 5% of citations involving repeat offenders, Westchester County officials said enforcement, education, and community partnerships are helping change driver behavior.

Read More →
Graphic showing a yellow school crossing sign and blurred school bus with the headline, “The Back-to-School Traffic Effect.”
Safety•by Amanda Huggett•September 18, 2026

School's Back. Here's What Happened to Traffic, Speeding & Distraction

What happens to traffic when school resumes? New data analysis examines changes in distracted driving, congestion, and speeding around schools.

Read More →
Geotab fleet safety platform showing driver coaching data and video of driving events alongside a Geotab vehicle camera.
Technology•by News/Media Release•September 17, 2026

Geotab Expands Fleet Safety Tools With Video Coaching, Risk Insights

New safety and video capabilities aim to help fleet managers assess risk, support drivers, and take targeted action through video coaching, red-light violation detection, and more.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
School Bus Fleet’s The Route graphic featuring two people alongside the text, “The Secret to Better Bus Driver Training (It’s Not the Curriculum),” sponsored by IC Bus.
Sponsored•by Amanda Huggett•September 15, 2026

How to Build a Better School Bus Driver Training Program

Is it time to strengthen your driver training? Here’s how to pick the right talent and improve recruitment, retention, and safety. This video is brought to you by IC Bus.

Read More →