Over the past few months I’ve been telling you about the risks associated with various kinds of products, specifically ones targeted toward kids. This blog is different in that it does not mention products; instead it focuses on the issue of school bus safety.
You may have heard about a recent school bus crash outside Philadelphia. The accident killed a 27 year old man and prosecutors say the driver was driving recklessly just before the crash. This was a tragedy that clearly could have been prevented. Investigators say the driver, Frederick Poust III, blew through as many as 10 stop signs and it was all caught on tape, courtesy of on-board surveillance cameras. The crash not only killed the driver of a car that the bus driver hit, but it also injured five students on the bus.
Unfortunately, this is not the first time Poust has been in trouble with the law, regarding his time behind the wheel of a school bus. In 1999, Poust was cited for careless driving in a crash that killed a 2-year-old girl. In that case he admitted to running a stop sign while dialing a cell phone. In this latest crash, investigators say he was not holding a cell phone, but court papers indicate that he been talking on a wireless headset and been listening to music on a speaker system. Poust, of Schwenksville, PA has been charged with homicide by vehicle and 46 counts of recklessly endangering another person.
It is unbelievable that someone who had taken the life of a child in a previous accident could be so reckless. He obviously did not learn his lesson.
When parents send their kids off to school, they assume they will be protected and transported in a safe manner. Unfortunately, this is not always the case. In April of 2009, in Charlotte, NC, a school bus crash injured 36 students.
We all know, accidents happen, but in the case of Poust, it clearly could have been prevented. Putting the lives of children at risk is unacceptable.
Attorney Jeffrey Killino’s focus is on keeping kids safe and knows child injuries are very serious and can leave a parent feeling helpless. If your child was injured as a result of a school bus accident, please contact child injury attorney Jeffrey Killino at 877-875-2927 today.
