Driver cited in school-bus crash near South Transfer Station

| South Park | West Seattle news

(Seattle Fire Department photo)

We’ve learned that this crash near the South Transfer Station between West Seattle and South Park today resulted in a citation for the school-bus driver involved. Seattle Public Schools, which contracts with the bus company, didn’t have information on what the citation was for, but did confirm to WSB that the driver was cited. Seattle Fire reported that no one was hurt in the midday crash at West Marginal Way South and South Holden; the bus was carrying two preschoolers, and one child’s dad tells WSB they were being transported from a preschool program at Fairmount Park Elementary.

ImmaMom October 18, 2016 (10:20 pm)

Sigh. And this bus driver will be reassigned to a different route, probably my kids, or yours….

AMD October 19, 2016 (11:35 am)

Why do you assume this? Someone I know was let go from First Student for turning too wide and hitting a cement barrier. No kids on the bus. No injuries at all. Messed up the bus pretty good, but it was still his first accident.

It sounds like you are assuming there will be little to no consequence, which doesn’t make sense. Neither does the assumption that the driver will be switched to another route…

WS_IS_Great October 19, 2016 (12:12 am)

Relax – they are doing the best they can on a limited budget. Everyone has an accident throughout their entire lifetime.

M October 19, 2016 (7:02 am)

Luckily both kids had harness seat belts on in the bus.

AJP October 19, 2016 (10:37 am)

School buses are THE BEST vehicle to transport anyone in, period. Their steel cages and compartmentalized construction (high, padded seat backs) are made to be super safe, even if passengers aren’t wearing seat belts. The average number of children who die inside (not outside) a school bus each year is *ONE*. One kid a year. Pretty amazing, actually. I’m sure this bus driver feels terrible, and hopefully there will be a full investigation with appropriate consequences.

WestCake October 19, 2016 (12:11 pm)

The kids are ok. Metal doesn’t bleed. All good.

JC October 19, 2016 (3:16 pm)

I can tell you that I drive by every day where these buses come out of the bus barn on Cloverdale and can’t tell you how many I see running red lights etc. I saw one texting on her cell phone and weaving back and forth and couldn’t stay in her lane. I ended up calling First Student and report it (had the bus number so they know who it was). I understand they are on a limit budget etc, but no excuse to drive like an idiot.

sbre October 20, 2016 (5:41 am)

Please know that most of us school bus drivers take our job, our chosen profession VERY SERIOUSLY. Sadly not all share this same outlook.

Every minute I’m on the road in my bus I know that I only have one chance to negotiate each and every: corner, pick-up, car door opened in front of me, drop-off, intersection, car racing to get in front of me, round-about, interaction with other traffic etc. correctly, and focus intently on that immediate task at hand. All while commandeering a 40′ long, 10+’ wide vehicle with as many as 38 ‘other peoples children’ (on my bus this year, however our “Max Capacity” is 71!!) who are not seat-belted in (for good reasons, which I’m happy to share them) and have minds of their own.

Personally I know nothing of this reported incident nor who the driver was, however it does bother me that it happened, just as it bothers me to read of JC’s observation. I strongly encourage anyone who see’s one of our drivers operating their bus in such a manner, or any other way that is against the law or dangerous to report it. Like s/he did, get the bus number and call our office (206 763-2222). Conversely, if you see a good thing done by one of us, use the same procedure and let our boss know, just like any other business, they like to hear of the GOOD that their employees are demonstrating.

Just as I strongly ask that when you’re driving and encounter a school bus ‘doing its thing’, please be patient and understanding, knowing that MOST of us drivers are doing the best we can with all the inherent challenges this job brings. Know that MOST of us pride ourselves in what we do and how we do it, and some of the odd ways in which we ‘do it’ have meaning although it may not be obvious to those who’ve not sat in one of our drivers’ seats.

Know that MOST of us truly care about each and everyone of those bright and shinny little faces (“my little darlings”) aboard our bus and the families they come from. AND that we care how we operate our bus (I call mine an “egg carton” because its fragile and precious content) on every section of the roadway every minute of every day of every school year.

We’re all in this mess together, so the best we do to work with one another during those times when we encounter each other makes it a lot easier for all involved. It takes less time to wait a few seconds, a minute, then it does to have an accident.

Peace…

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