YPSILANTI TOWNSHIP, Mich. — A suspicious school bus has been spotted in the area trying to pick up students on Thursday, police said.
At about 7:20 a.m., the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office received a call about a suspicious school bus in the area of Tyler Rd. and Buick Ave. in Ypsilanti Township. The district’s name had been covered with spray paint, according to a Nixle alert from the Sheriff’s Office. Peter Kudlak, the superintendent of Van Buren Public Schools, told MLive that a parent reported that the bus pulled up to a stop and claimed to be a driver for the district. Kudlak added that the parent did not let the students at the stop board the bus, and the driver sped off.
Pamela Johnson, the administrative assistant to Kudlak, sent a message about the incident through the live feed on the district's website this morning. The message stated that the bus had been seen stopping in the West Willow neighborhood trying to pick up students. The district warned against allowing students to approach any bus not clearly marked “Van Buren Public Schools.” The district also alerted parents with phone messages and let other school districts know about the incident, MLive reports.
Deputies are working to locate and confirm whether the bus is assigned to a particular district or school, or what the driver’s motives may have been, according to the Sheriff’s Office. Kudlak told MLive that the bus is not from his district; all the district’s buses are clearly marked and accounted for. He added that he wasn’t aware of any students not making it to school safely.
Police were also notified of a similar bus seen elsewhere in Ypsilanti Township, according to MLive. Additionally, Van Buren Township Director of Public Safety Greg Laurain told the news source that a few minutes after Van Buren Public Schools sent out alerts, police received a call about a bus at a mobile home community in Van Buren Township. All of the incidents are under investigation.
Anyone with information regarding this bus can contact the Washtenaw County Sheriff's Office through 911 or through Crime Stoppers at (800) SPEAKUP.
Unmarked School Bus Spotted Trying to Pick Up Students
A Michigan school bus with the district’s name covered by spray paint tries to pick up students at a stop, but a parent won’t let them board, and the driver speeds off. Two similar sightings are reported soon after.
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 →