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Coopersville Student Critical After Schoolbus Lights Ignored

This story about a student getting hit just before getting picked up by a bus does pose some questions that those who wish to reduce BMP (bicyclist, motorcyclist, pedestrian (vulnerable users of the road)) accidents, which hopefully is just about everyone.

1) Why did the motorist not stop when the bus' lights were flashing?

2) Did the teenage pedestrian have some extra responsibility to make sure and see the motorist would indeed stop?

3) Why was the motorist allowed to leave the scene without any stated charge against him?

Likely, more information than what this news source offered is required to make an informed decision on these dispositions. But this incident should illustrate two general incontrovertible ideas, which I would hope be included in news reports: a) if you are a motorist and you see the flashing red lights of a school bus you need to stop-- it's the law and b) if you are a pedestrian, do not count on the above action-- look before you cross whether you have a red light, a stop sign, or school bus lights 'protecting your passage'.

Check out the other more local incident that happened with a bicycle and car last night on this thread, another accident that could have been avoided by either party using a little more common sense: http://ludingtoncitizen.ning.com/forum/topics/be-careful-my-bicycle...

Police investigate an accident near Eighth Avenue and Arthur Street in Wright Township. (April 25, 2013)

Teen hit, critically hurt, at bus stop

Police: Car hit student as he crossed street

Updated: Thursday, 25 Apr 2013, 10:08 AM EDT Published : Thursday, 25 Apr 2013, 7:45 AM EDT

WRIGHT TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - A 15-year-old Coopersville High School student suffered critical injuries after being struck by a car as he crossed a street to get on a bus.

The bus did have its emergency lights on when the incident occurred around 7 a.m. Thursday in front of the teen's parents' house near Eighth Avenue and Arthur Street in Wright Township, police said.

Police questioned and released the driver whose vehicle hit the teen.

The victim's younger brother was also at the bus stop but the older sibling crossed the road first.

A crisis management team is at the school, interviewing the nine students who were on the bus.

It was raining heavily at the time, but it is unknown if this was a factor in the incident.

http://www.woodtv.com/dpp/news/local/ottawa_county/accident-in-wrig...

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Permalink Reply by XLFD on May 15, 2013 at 10:56pm

West Michigan's Fox 17 had a report on the violation of school bus traffic controls in their coverage last night, based on a six month study. Check out the video.