Video from inside a Marysville school bus shows the driver attempting to activate the bus safety lights and signals before attempting to pick up a student.
“He totally thought his lights were on,” Marysville Superintendent Diane Mankins said, adding that it was “human error.”
Mankins was referring to an April 25 incident, captured on the bus camera as well as on the dash cam of an oncoming truck. The video shows a 17-year-old student waiting for the bus in the driveway of a home on U.S. 36 near New Dover.
Mankins said as the bus prepared to stop, “the bus driver reached over and hit the button, or thought he hit the button, but he did not.”
The video shows the Marysville bus stop, but despite the driver’s actions, there are flashing amber lights as it slows or red lights as it stops. Also, the bus does not extend a red stop sign as it stops. The student sprints across the road, narrowly missing an oncoming car and the truck, which hit their brakes as the boy ran across the road.
She said the near tragedy was the driver’s fault, but that he never meant harm and thought he had taken the correct steps.
“Luckily, it turned out as well as it could, but it still doesn’t make you feel better,” Mankins said. “I am so grateful that no one was hurt, not the student, not the driver of the car that tried to stop, no one on the bus.”
Mankins said the driver has worked for the district since 2007.
“To date, he has a pretty good record,” Mankins said.
The superintendent said Transportation Director Tina Sharrock learned of the incident the day it happened. The driver was “removed from driver’s responsibilities” the day of the incident.
“He has gone through some training before coming back,” Mankins said.
She said the driver returned to duty Monday.
Mankins said she learned of the incident Thursday morning when Sharrock told her of a meeting with the mother. The superintendent said Sharrock did not handle the matter appropriately.
“We need to go back and look at this in it’s entirety,” Mankins said. “There was a breakdown in our internal communications. This is not how it should have been handled.”
According to the state’s Pupil Transportation Operation and Safety Rules, buses are to use flashing amber lights as it stops and red flashing lights as it is stopped. Additionally, busses are to be equipped with a stop sign that extends to the side when the bus stops.
Vehicles are required to stop at least 10 feet from the front or rear of the school bus and are not allowed to move again until the school bus, “resumes motion, or until signaled by the school bus driver to proceed.”
According to the state’s Pupil Transportation Operation and Safety Rules drivers are still required to stop for a stopped bus even if its lights and signals are not activated.
Mankins said while she is “so grateful the incident turned out as well as it did,” it should serve as a reminder for drivers to pay attention when busses and children are involved.
“Children don’t always do what they are supposed to,” Mankins said. “Things don’t always work like they are supposed to. Unexpected things can happen. People need to be aware of what’s going on.”
Mankins said the district will also learn from the incident.
“It is the ultimate responsibility to look after the safety and protection of students,” Mankins said. “We have to do better and we will.”