North Carolina School Bus Driver Cited in Accident Dies

A North Carolina bus driver has died two days after he was charged in a school bus crash that injured five students. According to the Polk County Sheriff’s Office, the crash occurred on Feb. 16 on Howard Gap Road in the Saluda community around 4:15 p.m. The bus was transporting 21 middle and high school students at the time of the crash. Authorities said the school bus driver ran off the right side of the road and lost control of the vehicle, causing it to overturn into the front yard of a mobile home. Five students were transported to the hospital with injuries, however, police said none of the victims had sustained life-threatening personal injuries.

The 59-year-old driver was charged with failure to maintain lane control by police at the scene of the crash. Two days after the crash, the driver suddenly died, however, police have not released a cause of death.

School Bus Accidents

Millions of children ride school buses every day in this country. The majority of these children arrive home safe and sound at the end of each day, but sometimes there are incidents that do happen. When they do occur, they can be tragic.

School bus accidents can cause a myriad of injuries, depending on how serious the crash is. Even the most minor of crashes can leave a young child with physical injuries and emotional trauma.

One of the most common – and deadliest – type of school bus accidents involve children struck by another vehicle as they are getting on or off the bus.

There are laws in every state that all vehicles are required to stop when school bus lights are flashing, but far too many drivers ignore this law. This is why it is critical to teach your child to wait for the bus in a safe place, away from the street and traffic. Children should remain there until the bus comes to a complete stop and the bus driver signals them it is okay to cross the street to get on the bus.

Children can also be struck by the bus when they get off of it. Teach your child to always walk a minimum of 10 steps from the bus, otherwise, the bus driver might not be able to see them.

School bus accidents can also occur because of negligence or recklessness on the part of the school bus driver. The driver may engage in distracted driving behaviors, speeding, or traffic violations that end up causing the bus to crash.

Contact a North Carolina Personal Injury Attorney for Assistance

If your child has been involved in a school bus accident, the first thing you should do is have them checked out by a medical professional to determine if they have been injured and to what extent. Even if you think the injuries are only minor, it is important to have them evaluated. It is not uncommon for symptoms of injuries to remain hidden for several days or even weeks following an accident. This can lead to serious medical issues.

Whether the school bus accident your child was injured in was the cause of the school bus driver, another driver, defective bus parts, or some other party, our personal injury law firm can help. Call Shapiro, Washburn & Sharp today to schedule a free consultation with one of our dedicated North Carolina school bus attorneys to find out what legal recourse you may have for your child’s injuries.

 

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