Teenage Boy Struck By Car While Waiting to Board the Bus
A 17-year-old boy was waiting to board a Cumby ISD school bus when he was struck by a car.
The Auto-Pedestrian Crash
On Wednesday, January 26, a 17-year-old boy was preparing to board a Cumby ISD school bus at the FM 275 overpass on Interstate 30. The school bus had stopped on the overpass and put on its flashing lights to indicate that students were boarding.
According to the Hopkins County Chief Deputy, a female driver ignored the flashing bus lights, kept driving, and struck the 17-year-old male student.
The student was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. No other injuries were reported at the time of the crash. The Texas Department of Public Safety is currently conducting a full investigation into the auto-pedestrian crash.
School Bus Safety Tips
Because school buses are responsible for the safe transport of young children and teenagers, there are certain laws and regulations that must be followed to prevent crashes.
If a driver chooses to disregard these laws, they may be subject to a fine for their first offense and a license suspension if it continues. In order to ensure the safety of students on school buses, there are some tips that drivers should follow:
Follow school buses at a safe distance, keeping in mind that frequent stops may be made.
Always be alert for children around school buses and pay extra attention at crosswalks as students may not look for vehicles before crossing.
Stop for flashing red lights or a stop sign on a school bus, no matter which direction you are headed. You may only continue once the lights have stopped, the stop sign is down, or the driver has signaled it’s okay to move.
As for the children boarding and leaving the bus, there are some tips that parents and caregivers can share to keep them safe. Some of these school bus safety tips include:
Stand as far from the curb as possible before boarding.
Before boarding, wait for the bus to come to a complete stop and the driver to signal that it is safe to board.
When exiting the bus, always cross in front and never behind.
Always watch for vehicles and wait for traffic to stop before crossing.
When driving, many people feel inconvenienced if they have to stop behind a school bus. Although it may add extra time to your commute, stopping will ensure that students are safely entering and exiting the bus.
The next time you get behind a school bus, patiently wait until the lights and stop sign are gone before driving on.