A school bus driver in Florida has been arrested and charged with more than two dozen counts of child neglect after her bus, packed with 29 young children, was clipped by a speeding train.
The incident took place at the intersection of East Central Avenue and North Market Street on Thursday, April 2, in Bushnell, Florida. After the incident was reported, police launched an investigation into what happened.
Sumter County Sheriff’s Office’s Patrick Breeden said the bus driver, who has been identified as Yvonne Hampton, made “poor decisions that could have resulted in the death of 29 children and one adult.”
“Trains don’t sneak up on people, folks,” Breeden said in a statement shared via Facebook. “It was poor judgment and that’s what led to this arrest.”
Hampton, 67, was arrested on Monday, April 6, and released the following day, according to jail records. She has been charged with 29 counts of child neglect, as well as endangering an adult and reckless driving charges.
It is not currently clear if Hampton has entered a plea or retained legal counsel following her arrest. The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office did not immediately respond to Luxury Handbag Shopping’s request for comment regarding the case.
Despite being in a dangerous situation, no one involved in the incident was hurt.
The collision was captured on video by someone on the bus, which was later shared by WFLA. In the video, students were shown screaming as the train raced by in close proximity to the bus.
Amid the investigation, police reviewed video and audio taken during the incident, according to an arrest report obtained by WESH and ClickOrlando. Authorities said they heard Hampton allegedly saying, “Not gonna stop for no train.”
Following Hampton’s arrest, Breeden pointed out how thoroughly his team worked throughout the investigation. He thanked Deputy Hanson and Deputy Surreal for their diligent work, as well as expressed gratitude towards the school board for their cooperation and for providing access to video footage that ultimately helped them make the arrest.
The school district’s superintendent, Logan Brown, also weighed in on the incident. “This is an unfortunate situation that could have ended a lot differently,” Brown said. “The Sumter County Sheriff’s Office has been extremely great to work with, and we will always collaborate to keep our kids safe.”
