Bus crash result of driver error

RIVER CLUB — As students of Bus 560 unloaded at Braden River Middle School Monday morning, it seemed as though they had settled back into their normal routine — even though a crash between the Bus 560 and a semi-truck Jan. 5 sent 23 students, as well as both drivers, to local hospitals.

Everyone involved escaped from the collision with only scrapes and bruises, despite reports that one student had broken a leg.

“Everybody seems to be fine,” Braden River Middle School Principal Randy Petrilla said. “It’s fortunate there were no broken bones.”

Crisis team counselors were on hand at Braden River Middle on Monday to meet with students affected by the crash, whether riders of Bus 560 or friends of students involved in the accident. Petrilla, however, said no students had sought out counseling following the incident.

More than 20 students rode Bus 560 to school Monday, Petrilla said. Forty students are on the bus’s roster; 26 students were riding the bus at the time of the accident.

A Florida Highway Patrol report from the accident states Bus 560, driven by 68-year-old Charles Robert Orr, was traveling westbound on State Road 64, approaching 66th Street Court East, when Orr became distracted by a student on the bus and collided with a tractor-trailer that was stopped at a red light at the intersection. Upon collision, Orr’s legs became pinned in the wreckage, preventing him from being able to depress the brake pedal.

Orr steered the bus as it continued to coast westward after the crash and eventually steered the bus onto the north shoulder of the road, in front of Walmart, about one-quarter mile from the crash site.

Students opened a side emergency window, and several jumped out while the bus was still moving. Three employees from Clear Sunset Car Wash saw the bus and jumped aboard to stop it.

Orr has been charged with careless driving by Florida Highway Patrol, and Manatee County School District officials said Orr, a substitute bus driver, is no longer employed by the district.

District officials released a video of the crash, from a camera inside the bus, to media Jan. 6, and also opened up the wrecked vehicle for viewing and photos.

“We are sorry that this accident happened and that students were injured,” Superintendent Tim McGonegal said. “The School District of Manatee County wants to assure the families of our injured students that we will be responsible for paying the students’ medical bills. On-board video shows that this accident was the result of driver error.”

District officials said Orr passed a student a courtesy notice — a warning of misbehavior — to be filled out, just moments before the crash. McGonegal said Orr believed the student was being too loud, although district officials did not see any signs of improper behavior in video footage leading up to the crash.

Orr did not seem to realize he was about to collide with another vehicle until the crash actually occurred, officials said. Video footage shows students began to yell just moments before the collision.

Footage also shows students opening the emergency exit window and jumping out after the impact. An employee from the car wash can be seen climbing into the moving bus, talking with Orr about how to stop the vehicle and calming students.

District officials commended the man’s actions, as well as the actions of his two co-workers, who grabbed the bus’ side mirrors and helped pull it to a stop.

District officials said Orr broke procedure by passing the note to the student while driving, but he handled the bus properly immediately following the collision. Additionally, Orr has expressed deep remorse for causing the accident and injuring students, McGonegal said.

Contact Pam Eubanks at [email protected].

By the numbers:
2 — number of students transported to the hospital by a parent
21 — number of students transported by ambulance to hospitals
26 — number of students riding the bus at the time of the accident
34 — the last miles per hour GPS reading prior to the crash
40 — number of students on the roster for Bus 560