The bus driver was cited for swerving and for not wearing his seat belt properly.
LEANDER, Texas — The Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) has released the results of its investigation into a school bus rollover crash in Travis County earlier this month.
At around 3:15 p.m. on Aug. 13, a school bus coming from Bagdad Elementary School in Leander ISD crashed on Nameless Road. A total of 46 students were aboard the bus at the time of the crash, and 16 of those children were taken to a hospital for treatment of injuries. The bus driver was also transported to a hospital.
While some of the injuries were initially reported as life-threatening, later evaluations downgraded those conditions, according to DPS.
DPS said it was raining and the road was wet at the time of the crash. Dash cam video provided by Leander ISD showed the bus traveling westbound, crossing the double yellow line multiple times, before leaving the right side of the road and rolling over.
Ware Wendell, executive director of Texas Watch, a nonprofit focused on public safety issues, was shocked when he watched the dash cam video.
“It was just hard to watch thinking about all those children on the bus,” Wendell said.
The driver did not show any signs of impairment, according to DPS, but investigators found he was not wearing his seat belt properly. DPS also noted limited seat belt use among the students on the bus.
Wendell said the effort to get seatbelts on school buses has taken place since 2007.
“In 2017, we were working to make sure that new school buses had safety belts, had seatbelts on them,” Wendell said.
In September, a bill will take effect that requires all school buses to have seat belts.
“That’s why it’s so important that our school districts implement those policies and our school bus drivers make sure that every single student is buckled up,” Wendell said.
Steven Dacke, a Leander ISD parent whose wife teaches at Bagdad Elementary, has previously raised concerns about the road’s sharp curves and lack of shoulders. Still, he said he understands the challenges of managing a bus full of children.
“You can only do so much as a driver to try to make sure the kids are in it. It’s a lot of responsibility for them but it’s also a lot of responsibility for someone at an elementary age,” Dacke said.
Following the rules of the road and ensuring school districts have safety procedures and equipment in place is what Wendell is focused on. For him, it is all about the children.
“They are the most precious cargo we have,” Wendell said.
The bus driver was cited for Fail to Drive in a Single Lane and Rider Not Secured by Safety Belt – Driver, but local prosecutors determined criminal charges weren’t warranted.
DPS troopers who inspected the bus found that all four rear tires were blow the tread depth of 6/32 of an inch. However, investigators could not confirm if the tire condition contributed to the crash.
DPS said it coordinated with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) during its investigation. The NTSB is conducting its own investigation of the crash.
KVUE News asked Leander ISD who is responsible for ensuring students wear their seat belts. The district declined an on-camera interview but provided the following statement:
We appreciate the Texas Department of Public Safety for its thorough investigation into the recent bus rollover accident. We are grateful that the investigation found no criminal wrongdoing. While there was an observation regarding tire tread, it was not outside acceptable safety standards. The report also reinforced the importance of consistent seatbelt use, which continues to be a priority for us. Student safety is our top responsibility, and we remain committed to reviewing our practices and strengthening reminders about seatbelt use to ensure the well-being of every child we transport.
– Crestina Hardie, Leander ISD Chief Communications Officer