Molino Woman Rear-Ends School Bus In Cantonment

May 3, 2013

A Molino woman was cited by the Florida Highway Patrol after rear-ending a school bus Friday morning on Highway 29.

The FHP said 39-year old Audra Mae Parker was southbound on Highway 29 near Muscogee Road about 7:45 a.m. when she rear-ended the bus that was stopped at railroad tracks that cross Highway 29. There was no visible damage to the bus driven by 41-year old Patricia Darlene Johnson of Molino, while Parker’s Toyota Corolla suffered about $500 in damage.

There were 14 Tate High School students on the bus at the time of the crash, none of which were injured.

Parker was cited by the FHP for careless driving.

Comments

13 Responses to “Molino Woman Rear-Ends School Bus In Cantonment”

  1. Steven on May 6th, 2013 5:03 pm

    The only logical explanation for why people keep hitting school buses is that drivers are just not paying attention, not because the bus is in a certain lane or whatever. The buses give you plenty of warning when they are going to make a stop, so as long as you’re focused on the road you should definitely see the buses. A good rule of thumb is to always be prepared to stop at any time when you see a school bus.

    When I was riding the school bus just a year or two ago, one morning we were stopped at a traffic light. When it turned green, my driver didn’t immediately proceed. I looked and saw a woman in a car fly right through the red light! She was on her cellphone and obviously did not see the light turn red. Thank goodness my bus driver saw that coming or that could’ve ended up badly.

    Although I realize that sometimes accidents just happen, I am willing to bet that most bus rear-endings/crashes are a result of cell phone and other similar distractions. As a young driver myself I NEVER use my phone while I’m driving. I only hope other people can realize the dangers of distracted driving and be safe on the road.

  2. Jessica. on May 6th, 2013 3:17 pm

    It is not a high speed lane, it is the passing lane. It is the law to stop for busses.

  3. John on May 6th, 2013 1:27 pm

    Mom are you insane? Lol what if some of the kids have to walk across the street after the bus driver pulls off the road to unload? Instead of reading about the bus getting rear ended we’ll be reading about a young child getting killed while crossing the street. Or is a small child more visible than a huge yellow bus?

  4. Carolyn on May 6th, 2013 8:24 am

    @ MOM . ARE YOU CRAZY ????????????

  5. Carolyn on May 6th, 2013 8:23 am

    YOU NEVER NEVER PULL A SCHOOL BUS OFF THE ROAD TO UNLOAD KIDS ! WHAT ABOUT THE ONES CROSSING THE ROAD ? IF YOU HAVE NEVER DROVE A SCHOOL BUS YOU SHOULD TRY IT. i DROVE A SCHOOL BUS FOR 43 YEARS . I DON’T UNDERSTAND WHY DRIVERS HAS A PROBLEM SEEING A BIG YELLOW SCHOOL BUS. WE HAVE ALL OUR LIGHTS GOING. WE GIVE A FAIR WARNING THAT WE ARE GOING TO STOP, ESPECIALLY AT A RAILROAD CROSSING AND LETTING OUR CHILDREN OFF THE BUS. SO MANY DRIVERS JUST SPEED ON PASS OUR STOP ARM WHEN WE ARE UNLOADING OUR CHILDREN. DRIVERS NEED TO PAY MORE ATTENTION TO THEIR DRIVING AND PUT THOSE CELL PHONES DOWN.I WOULD BE WILLING TO BET THIS ACCIDENT WAS BECAUSE OF A CELL PHONE.

  6. David Huie Green on May 6th, 2013 7:37 am

    In other words, if buses would just stay out of the way, all would be well?

  7. mom on May 6th, 2013 2:03 am

    There should be a law that busses do not stop dead in the main highway. Too dangerous.

    Many times a bus has stopped on 29 to let kids off. REALLY!!! Pull off the road to let kids off.

    My kids are grown. they never went to public school. My taxes has paid for the public schools for years. I should have a voice in the matter.

  8. David Huie Green on May 4th, 2013 8:50 pm

    REGARDING:
    “the bus will be in the high speed lane and stop dead – no flashing lights and I have seen them almost rear ended on numerous occasions and have seen others rear ended because they stopped dead in the HIGH SPEED lane due to the railroad tracks – I know by law they are required to stop and they also can use the left lane if there is a left turn within a certain distance – but they should be in the right hand lane”

    That could be the problem — not the idea that buses should stop without flashing 4-way-lights of course; that shouldn’t happen even if drivers sometimes do so — the idea that the inner lane is only for HIGH SPEED driving, rather than sometimes for occasional left turns.

    For example at Cantonment, if you stop your bus for the railroad crossing as you are legally required to do and are about to turn left onto Muscogee Road and stop in the right-most lane, you then have a short distance to begin to try to shift lanes after crossing the railroad. All the cars from both lanes behind you absolutely HAVE to pass you on the left, so you’re holding up traffic for several minutes while they reject letting you turn left in front of them.

    Anyhoo, the inner lane is not necessarily the HIGH SPEED lane so please consider not treating it as such. In fact, if anyone stops in the road in front of you for any reason whatsoever, please stop ere you hit her.

    It’ll make everyone’s day better.

    David for better days

  9. Seriously??? on May 3rd, 2013 11:27 pm

    @ my point:

    The buses have brakes lights, they out weigh your car any day and if you can’t stop too, your following to closely. They are a bus, they advise you when your behind them by the writing on the door, that they stop at all railroad crossings, why would it suprise you when they do. Pay attention, accidents happen it’s life, that’s shy we have insurance, but don’t blame someone else when you mess up.

    Me for taking responsibility

  10. puddin on May 3rd, 2013 6:50 pm

    Amazing. Just cant figure out why people dont see buses. Glad no one was hurt. Please, put your cell phone, make up, razor, newspaper, etc down and drive.

  11. my point on May 3rd, 2013 1:44 pm

    I agree that the buses are big and yellow but I drove that route for years and the problem that I have (and called the schools about with no results) is that the bus will be in the high speed lane and stop dead – no flashing lights and I have seen them almost rear ended on numerous occasions and have seen others rear ended because they stopped dead in the HIGH SPEED lane due to the railroad tracks – I know by law they are required to stop and they also can use the left lane if there is a left turn within a certain distance – but they should be in the right hand lane -The school district nor the sheriffs office have done anything to ensure the safety of the children on the busses or the other drivers at this intersection and the bus drivers apparently don’t care

  12. just saying on May 3rd, 2013 11:12 am

    Lord have mercy! Another person it a school bus! HOW!!! really HOW do you not see a BUS! Has america become so use to seeing the HUGE YELLOW BUS that we now ignore them? Thank God no one was injured. Please open your eyes people, put the phones down, and look forward when driving!

  13. Freda Whaley on May 3rd, 2013 11:11 am

    This happens way too often. If people don’t start paying attention someone is going to get killed. It’s big, it’s yellow and it has flashing red and yellow lights. WAKE UP and start paying attention while driving.