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

Senate Report: Autonomous Car Companies Hiding Reliance on Remote Operators
Waymo’s self-driving vehicles are under fire again after repeated school bus passing violations, raising questions about safety, remote operators, and regulation.
Read More →
Industry Suppliers Offer Distracted Driving Awareness Month Reminders
Distracted driving continues to pose serious risks in school zones, with new data and driver insights highlighting ongoing concerns and potential solutions to improve student and roadway safety.
Read More →
NTSB Names Michael Graham Vice Chair: Where He Stands on School Bus Safety
A former airline pilot has stepped into a new role at the independent federal agency, but where does he stand on issues like seat belts on school buses? Here’s what he’s said.
Read More →
'A Train Is Coming': Florida School Bus Close Call Highlights Critical Railroad Safety Reminders
A Sumter County school bus driver faces child endangerment charges after proceeding over train tracks that clipped the back of the vehicle. The incident highlights the importance of rail crossing safety. Here’s what happened and what to tell your own drivers.
Read More →
No Train, No Stop? FMCSA Considers Rule Change for School Buses
The federal agency's proposed rulemaking would eliminate the requirement for school buses to come to a complete stop at railroad crossings if the warning device is not activated. The goal: to improve traffic flow and save costs. With new data released, public comment is open through April 27, 2026.
Read More →
The Essential Guide to School Bus Maintenance: Maximizing Safety and Uptime
Stop reacting to engine lights and start predicting them. This guide reveals how transitioning from a "break-fix" model to a data-driven maintenance strategy can drastically reduce fleet downtime and protect your district's budget. Learn how to transform your garage operations from a cost center into a reliability powerhouse.
Read More →
2 Students Die in Tennessee School Bus Crash with Dump Truck
A Carroll County accident claimed the lives of two students and injured over a dozen others on a March 27 field trip for eighth graders at Clarksville-Montgomery County.
Read More →
School Bus Laws to Watch: Stop-Arm Enforcement, EV Mandates & Seat Belts
From North Dakota public charter school regulations, tracking illegal school bus passing consequences in multiple states, and the continued debate on New York’s electric school bus mandate, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
Boosting K-12 Attendance With Innovative Transportation Solutions
While the yellow school bus remains the backbone of student transit, 75% of administrators identify limited transportation access as a major driver of chronic absenteeism. This guide explores how districts are strengthening their fleets by integrating flexible, supplemental solutions to serve students with the most complex needs. Learn how a multimodal approach can bridge service gaps, restore attendance, and support your most vulnerable populations.
Read More →
Michigan District Rolls Out New Stop-Arm Program
Grand Rapids Public Schools is partnering up with BusPatrol and Dean Transportation to outfit the entire bus fleet with cameras.
Read More →
