Tecumseh bus driver stops student from getting off bus, being hit by vehicle

The Springfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating the incident. It happened around 3:21 p.m. on State Route 235 at the intersection of Quail Ridge Drive in Bethel Twp., according to the patrol.

The bus driver, April Wise, stopped to let the seventh-grade student off the bus when a vehicle went around the right side of the bus.

“The bus driver was stopping and checked her mirrors as they always should as the student was (getting off) the bus. She saw the car swerve around the back end and come up the right side, even leveling a mail box to the ground,” Crew said.

Wise yelled for the student to get his attention then pulled him back by his bookbag before he got off the bus just as the car stopped.

The 2013 Honda CR-V, driven by Abigail Kemp, 21, of Casstown, was traveling north on Route 235 when Kemp swerved to avoid the stopped school bus, traveled off the right side of the road and struck a mailbox, the patrol stated. She was cited for failure to control and passing a stopped school bus.

Crew said the mother of the student came outside to see what was happening and thanked the bus driver personally.

“We would like to extend our sincere appreciation to April Wise and all of our bus drivers who keep an eye out for our students safety each and ever day, and also let this video be reminder of the importance of following safety rule for buses,” Crew said.

The driver of the car stayed at the scene, Crew said.

Crew added she also received a call from the Ohio Department of Education’s Office of Transportation on Friday morning asking if they had permission to use the video for training purposes as an educational tool to create regulations and train people at the state level.