In a fifth crash involving Carroll County Public Schools bus the bus driver has been labeled at fault. The accident occurred at 7:05 am on January 15th, 2020. The bus collided with a 2001 Dodge Neon driven while turning left from Maple Grove into Manchester Valley High School entrance.
The Maryland bus accident is the fifth school bus crash in Carroll County in the past 11 school days. It is also the 35th collision this school year. The Dodge Neon was driven by 50-year-old Jonathan Light who is a public information officer for Carroll County Sheriff’s Office.
Four Students Suffered Minor Injuries
Carroll County Public Schools director of transportation, Mike Hardesty, confirmed that Bus 44 was turning into the entrance when it hit the passenger side of the Dodge.
There were 23 students on board, out of which four were seen by emergency medical services. The schoolchildren were later released to their parents as per Brenda Bowers, a spokeswoman for Carroll County Public Schools.
Police Found Bus Driver to be At Fault
The 65-year-old bus driver from Manchester was found to be at fault by police. Light wrote in an email that traffic citations were issued to the driver. The Dodge had to be towed but both drivers were not injured.
The bus driver continued driving after the crash and dropped off the remaining students before reporting the incident to the school resource officer.
Driver Did Not Follow Procedures
Hardesty claimed the bus driver did not follow school county procedures. The driver was supposed to call 911 immediately after the crash and also notify school district.
The bus driver, who is a three-year veteran, is to be tested for controlled substances as part of standard procedure.
Difficult to Pin Liability
In general, school bus accidents make for a more complex lawsuit as opposed to typical car collisions between two parties. School bus accident attorneys can be crucial to prove blame in these lawsuits. There are several parties that can be potentially at-fault in these collisions.
Commonly, the school district is the first to be labeled in a lawsuit. This is because the district is responsible for employing the driver as well as operating and maintaining the bus. They have a legal obligation and a duty to provide standard care. They need to ensure the safety of all children on the school bus.
Other at-fault parties can be the private bus company, another driver, or the manufacturer for defective bus or auto part. Experienced school bus accident lawyers can help you identify the proper party that is responsible and liable.