BY FRANK DANIELS IV
Staff Writer
As September came to a close, three school buses were involved in minor traffic accidents — all due to passenger vehicles striking the buses — with one resulting in a vehicle fire.
District policy dictates that any bus driver involved in an accident, as a commercial driver license holder, must submit to mandatory drug testing following the incident. Policy also requires that any incident involving injury or property damage be investigated.
In a series of statements after each incident, Moore County Schools reported one student sustained injuries, with no injuries reported in the two other crashes.
Transportation Director Jason Nelson said the district does not track total bus accidents, but over the three years of his tenure, he estimated an average of around five occur each year.
“Our school bus drivers receive training on how to respond in the event of an accident or emergency, with student safety always being the first priority,” Nelson said. “Drivers are trained on the appropriate steps to take following an incident, including assessing the situation, ensuring students are safe, communicating with the Moore County Schools Transportation Department, and contacting emergency services when needed. We regularly reinforce these procedures so our drivers are prepared to respond appropriately if an emergency occurs.”
The incidents occurred near the intersection of N.C. 211 and Lake Way Drive on the afternoon of Sept. 23; on Union Church Road near New Century Middle School the morning of Sept. 25; and in the Pinewild community the morning of Sept. 28. In each case, students were transferred to a different bus to complete the route.
District Communications Officer Charles Batchelor said if a bus driver were at fault, the district follows standard procedure that addresses employee disciplinary actions, adding personnel matters are confidential under state statute.
“When a school bus is involved in an accident, the driver’s first responsibility is the safety of the students on board,” Batchelor said. “The driver contacts the MCS Transportation Department. Depending on the circumstances, the driver may call Emergency Services. School administration may respond to the scene as needed. We appreciate the preparation and professionalism of our drivers and their continued focus on student safety, both during emergencies and throughout their daily routes.”
School district policy requires bus drivers to immediately report to the superintendent any accident “involving death, injury or property damage.” As with any accident, law enforcement may also respond to the scene to investigate the cause of the incidents.
The Pinehurst Police Department responded to the Sept. 28 incident. Chief Glen Webb said there was minimal damage due to the low speed of the vehicles at the time.
“The bus was backing up; however, the driver of the other vehicle turned onto the street and collided with the bus,” Webb said. “No citation was issued due to the estimated speed of both vehicles being under 5 mph, and there were no reported injuries to any passengers. EMS did respond to the scene, but nobody was transported.”
In an update during the school board’s recent meeting, Nelson said the incident off N.C. 211 involved a work truck striking the bus while it was stopped at a railroad crossing.
For the accident on Union Church Road, Nelson said the bus was traveling at approximately 45 miles per hour when a vehicle traveling at a higher rate of speed struck the bus, ultimately catching on fire. Nelson said the students had been safely evacuated from the bus before the vehicle ignited.
“While we’re thankful these incidents resulted in only one minor injury, the three crashes serve as a serious reminder of the responsibility every motorist has while driving around a school bus. Please slow down, pay attention, put your phone down, leave plenty of distance between your vehicle and a school bus,” Nelson said. “Motorists must be prepared for buses to stop unexpectedly and must never assume that a bus will continue moving. Our buses carry our community’s most important passengers — our children. It takes only one moment of distraction or inattention to cause a life-changing accident.”
Contact Frank Daniels IV at (910) 693-2486 or frank@thepilot.com
