13 Year Old Galveston Girl jump from School Bus raises School Bus Safety issues
By: Jose G. Landa, Eagle Pass Business Journal, Inc, Copyright 2015
The tragic death of a 13 year old Galveston female student who jumped from the rear door of a moving school bus raises questions concerning school bus safety in the State of Texas and United States, including the Eagle Pass Independent School District.
Investigative reports state that the 13 year old girl opened the rear door of her school bus and jumped into the IH-45 freeway while the bus was going approximately 55 miles per hour, causing her severe injuries and subsequent death from the injuries sustained.
The Galveston County Medical Examiner’s Office confirmed the death of the 13 year old female student.
Galveston County Sheriff’s Department officials stated on Monday December 7, 2015 that the school bus was coming from an alternative education program in Texas City when the tragic incident occurred.
The bus was traveling southbound on Interstate 45 near Bayou Vista when the 13-year-old girl hit the emergency exit button and jumped out.
Officials said the teen hit the emergency exit button on purpose and jumped onto the highway after she had been into an apparent altercation with another girl on the school bus.
Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset stated that students inside the school bus witnessed the tragic incident as the door bus alarm sounded when the girl opened the door. “They witnessed this 13-year-old young lady jump onto the freeway,” said Trochesset.
The 13 year old female student passed away on Wednesday, December 9, 2015.
United States Department of Transportation reports show that from 2003 to 2012 there have been at least five similar incidents where a person has fallen out of a school transportation vehicle and died.
Eagle Pass Independent School District Transportation Department Director Manuel Reyes stated that passenger safety in EPISD School buses and vehicles is a top priority and that EPISD takes such incidents very seriously. Reyes noted that EPISD established a safety curriculum for local students covering all safety issues, including unforeseen circumstances such as a student jumping out of a school bus.
The Eagle Pass Independent School District issued an official statement regarding school bus safety.
“Motorists have an important and vital role when it comes to the safety of our children around school buses. Motorists should be reminded to exhibit patience and care when approaching a flashing school bus with an extended stop arm. This past October, the Eagle Pass Independent School District celebrated “National School Bus Safety Week.” Our community must remember that even though we discuss and celebrate school bus safety once a year, the policies and procedures must be practiced throughout the school year. School bus safety requires motorists to exercise patience and awareness, no matter how important the sense of urgency exists, nothing is more important than the lives of our precious children.”
“Motorists should be aware that passing a flashing school bus or other crash-causing violations will not be tolerated by law enforcement. As a reminder motorist must adhere to the following laws when approaching a school bus: Motorist must stop at least 10 feet away from school buses that have their red lights flashing and stop arm extended. Motorist must stop when they are behind a bus, meeting the bus or approaching an intersection where a bus is stopped. Motorist following or traveling alongside a school bus must also stop until the red lights have stopped flashing, the stop arm is withdrawn, and all children have reached safety. Do not proceed until all the children have reached a place of safety.”
“For years, school buses have provided our children a safe and dependable method of travel to and from school. This year, EPISD will receive an additional 17 new school buses that will replace our older buses that have been in service for years. EPISD remains committed to providing a safe environment that fosters the growth and education of our students.”
The U.S. Department of Transportation statistical reports show that from 2003 through 2012 there have been 348,253 fatal motor vehicle traffic crashes in the United States. Of these crashes, 1,222 have been classified as school- transportation- related accidents. Of those 1,222 accidents there have been 1,353 people killed, an average of 135 fatalities per year. Reports show that occupants of school transportation vehicles accounted for 8% of all the fatalities, non-occupants (pedestrians, bicyclists and others accounted for 21% of the fatalities). 71% of the people who lost their lives in these car crashes were occupants of other vehicles involved. Reports show that from 2003 to 2012 , 174 school- age children died in school transportation related crashes, 55 were occupants of school transportation vehicles and 119 were pedestrians. Since 2003, 119 school age pedestrians (younger than 19 years old) have died in school transportation – related crashes. 65% were struck by school buses, 5 % by vehicles functioning as school buses, and 30% by other vehicles involved in the crashes. There were 42 or 35 % school age pedestrians 3 to 7 years old killed in school transportation – related crashes and a similar number and percentage who were 8 to 13 years old.
Reports show that between 2003 to 2012 there were 89 crashes in which at least one occupant of a school transportation vehicle died. More than half of those crashes (58%) involved at least one other vehicle. Impacts to the front of the school transportation vehicle occurred in 49% and impacts to the right side of the school transportation vehicle occurred in 15 % of fatal school transportation related crashes. Reports further state that in 37 single vehicle crashes , 39 occupants / 19 drivers and 20 passengers were killed. In the 52 multiple – vehicle crashes , 27 drivers and 40 passengers died. In the 37 single vehicle crashes , the first harmful events were as follows; 22 striking a fixed object accidents, 8 overturning the vehicle crashes, 5 persons falling from the vehicle accidents and 1 collision with a non- fixed object (pedestrian, pedalcyclist, railway, vehicle and live animal.
From 2003 to 2012, 70% of the school -age pedestrians fatally injured in crashes were struck by school buses or vehicles functioning as school buses, while 30% were struck by vehicles of other body types. Of the school-age pedestrians fatally injured in school transportation – related crashes, one third (33%) were struck by school buses or vehicles functioning as school buses that were going straight.
All drivers are asked to observe and obey all school traffic laws to protect the safety of school children.
