An investigation into an April 18 school bus crash has uncovered failures in internal procedures and lapses in the district’s code of ethics in supervising drivers, the Blaine County School District said Wednesday evening.
“We are taking corrective action to ensure this does not happen going forward,” district Superintendent GwenCarol Holmes said in a statement issued Wednesday evening. “The transportation director at the time of the accident is no longer employed by the district.”
The driver involved in the accident also no longer works for the district.
The bus accident near Dietrich involved about 40 Carey Junior High School students and three adults who were en route to a track meet. At least 10 students were taken to Southern Idaho hospitals, five via helicopter and another five via ambulance, and two students were hospitalized overnight. None of the injuries were considered life-threatening. Lincoln County emergency responders examined students on the scene; most were transported by bus back to the school without serious injury.
“We are deeply saddened by the accident, and we are continuing to do everything we can to help our students heal both physically and emotionally,” Holmes said. “We are continuing to review our internal procedures. We are re-emphasizing to our employees that compassion and concern for a fellow employee must never take precedence over our responsibilities for the safety of our students.”
The district is continuing to cooperate with Idaho State Police in its investigation of the accident.