NEW CASTLE, Delaware : Tuesday October 29, 2019 - A 37 year-old Wilmington man was struck and killed Tuesday morning about 6:45 a.m. at a school bus stop at the intersection of New Castle (Del. 9) and Ryan Avenue by a 55 year-old driver who ignored the school bus stop lights. The pedestrian tried to cross the road taking advantage of the school bus' red flashing stop lights. The pedestrian who died at the scene was not in the crosswalk at the time. Students were boarding the school bus at the time the pedestrian was attempting to cross.
The 55 year-old male driver of the silver 2007 Honda Accord was heading southbound on New Castle Avenue and illegally passed the stopped school bus. The pedestrian died at the scene. The driver was not injured. Damage was noted on the Honda Accord's windshield and front bumper. The investigation is ongoing at this time according to Delaware State Police.
In Conclusion
It's imperative to stop for school buses and be aware of your surroundings. Pedestrians need your help. This story about 2 weeks after the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services (NASDPTS) held their annual Conference which was held this year in Washington DC. They discussed urgent and emerging issues in student transportation. The latest stop-arm survey data was reviewed along with 49 years worth of National School Bus Loading and Unloading Surveys where they uncovered many fatalities to students in the school bus loading and unloading zone of a school bus. Safety recommendations were made and aimed at improving transportation safety for school-age children and there was much discussions as it related to illegal passing.
Following the conference, National School Bus Safety Week just ended, and now it's just HOURS before the one-year anniversary of the 2018 bus stop tragedy in Fulton County, Rochester Indiana where Alyssa Shepherd killed three siblings and injured a fourth child. She was just recently found guilty on all 5 counts - guilty of three counts of reckless homicide, one count of criminal recklessness and one misdemeanor count of passing a school bus with its stop arm extended, causing bodily injury.
Stop for school buses!
See the awesome existing proven proactive school bus pedestrian safety technology making more drivers stop for pedestrians as cross they street to board the school bus at www.GardianAngelLLC.com.
Does your state see the light?
Share this amazing video with others to prevent needless pedestrian deaths.
(Fun Fact: Delaware was the 21st state to permit the Gardian Angel school bus lighting system as an available option to school buses in June 2019 to prevent tragedies like this from ever occurring in the first place )
Read about it in School Transportation News Magazine here:
or School Bus Fleet Magazine here:
and of course you could read it on our own website at Gardian Angel, LLC here:
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