Teenage Girl Seriously Injured and Airlifted to Hospital Following Demarest School Bus Collision
DEMAREST, NEW JERSEY (July 25, 2025) – A 14-year-old girl was seriously injured in a Demarest school bus accident near the intersection of Anderson Avenue and County Road.
Demarest police officials are saying that the accident took place around 8:45 AM on July 23. A 14-year-old girl was struck by a school bus for undetermined reasons.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim. She was airlifted to a nearby hospital with critical injuries.
The driver of the school bus remained at the scene and cooperated with police. An initial investigation suggests no evidence of criminality.
A full investigation remains ongoing.
Liability for New Jersey School Bus Accidents
School buses are normally very safe for passengers. But these vehicles can be particularly dangerous for pedestrians and those in smaller vehicles. According to the National Safety Council, “School bus-related crashes killed 128 people nationwide in 2023, up 23% compared to the 104 deaths in 2022, according to National Safety Council (NSC) tabulations of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).” Bus drivers should take several actions to avoid colliding with pedestrians.
- School bus drivers should check their blind spots before turning at intersections.
- School bus drivers should maintain a safe speed at all times. They will need to reduce their speed when traveling through school zones.
- School bus drivers should use their horn when necessary to alert pedestrians of their presence.
All drivers in New Jersey have a legal obligation to exercise due care to avoid colliding with any pedestrian in the roadway. Pursuant to N.J.S.A. 39:4-36, “The driver of a vehicle shall yield the right-of-way to a pedestrian crossing the roadway within any unmarked crosswalk at an intersection, except at crosswalks when the movement of traffic is being regulated by police officers or traffic control signals.” If a school bus driver fails to slow down to avoid a pedestrian, their employer could be held at fault. It is important that certain steps are taken after any bus accident.
- Victims should seek a thorough medical evaluation.
- Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
- Surveillance footage should be sought.
- An experienced bus accident attorney should be contacted.
Bus accidents are usually preventable. In fact, it has been estimated that nearly 92% of all traffic collisions involve some amount of human error. Part of the problem is that bus drivers routinely failed to check the road for pedestrians, particularly at intersections. Any person that is injured in a school bus accident may have legal recourse to a personal injury claim.
Investigating New Jersey School Bus Accidents
We at GLK Law extend our best wishes to the 14-year-old girl injured in this Demarest school bus accident. It is our sincere hope that the victim will be able to make a full recovery. Any person that may have more information should reach out to authorities.
Have you or someone you care about been injured in a New Jersey school bus accident? Our team of school bus accident attorneys is here to assist you in any way that we can. We care deeply that accident victims get the most compensation possible so that they can focus on healing. Whether you have legal questions or are wondering how an attorney might be able to assist you, we are here to help. You can contact our office anytime at (516) 908-9792.
