School Bus Driver, 85, Died After Being Hit By a School Bus Along Frederick Avenue
MAPLE SHADE, NEW JERSEY (February 25, 2025) – An 85-year-old school bus driver has tragically died in an accident next to Maple Shade High School.
Maple Shade officials are saying that the collision took place on Tuesday afternoon. The school bus driver was standing outside of his school bus when he was struck by a second school bus.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help the victim. He was taken to the hospital in order to receive treatment.
Sadly, he later died due to the severe nature of his injuries. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for New Jersey School Bus Accidents
School buses are normally very safe for passengers. But they can be particularly dangerous for pedestrians and those in smaller vehicles. According to the National Safety Council, “School bus-related crashes killed 104 people nationwide in 2022, down 3.7% compared to the 108 deaths in 2021, according to National Safety Council (NSC) tabulations of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).” There are a number of reasons that school buses can be particularly dangerous.
- School buses have large blind spots that can obscure the presence of pedestrians.
- School buses have a high ground clearance, which can lead pedestrians to be sucked under the vehicle.
- School buses have a wide turning radius, which can increase the likelihood of side-impact collisions.
School buses are considered common carriers, and their drivers are held to a high standard in terms of safety. They must operate with a great deal of care in order to avoid hitting pedestrians and other people in the roadway. If a school bus driver fails to slow down in order to avoid hitting a pedestrian, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. It is important that certain steps are taken after any school bus accident.
- Eyewitnesses should be interviewed.
- Medical records related to the accident should be preserved.
- A police report should be created.
The vast majority of school bus accidents are preventable. They tend to involve some amount of negligence. This will often involve drivers who are simply not paying attention to the road ahead of them. Depending on the facts of any case, the company that owned or operated a school bus could be liable for a pedestrian collision. The family of any person who died in a school bus accident may have legal recourse through a civil claim.
Investigating New Jersey School Bus Accidents
We at Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. extend our deepest condolences to the family of the pedestrian who died in the collision. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to investigators. This was a preventable tragedy that should not have taken place.
Do you need more information about a North Brunswick school bus accident? Our team of pedestrian safety advocates is here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (516) 908-9792.
