One May day in 2019, a Minneapolis girl, 11 was hit by car after getting off a school bus. A 60-year-old man was arrested. Witnesses said he was traveling in his vehicle at a high-speed when he attempted to go around the stopped bus. The accident left the girl fighting for her life and facing several surgeries.

There was conflicting information in the case whether or not the bus driver lowered the bus stop arm at the time of the incident. However, drivers must use extreme caution when approaching a parked school bus to avoid such horrific tragedies.

Ever so often our court reporters notice school bus stop arm/red lights violations on court dockets. It’s not a lot, but we just can’t understand why such violations occur at all.

More children are killed outside of a school bus than they are as bus occupants, according to the Minnesota Department of public safety.

“Motorists must anticipate children in a school bus “danger zone” — the area around a bus where most injuries and deaths occur,” the DPS warns.

According to Minnesota Department of Motor Vehicles, motorists must stop at least 20 feet from a school bus that is displaying red flashing lights and/or its stop arm is extended when approaching from the rear and from the opposite direction on undivided roads. Violators face a $500 fine if found guilty.

Remember, if you see a school bus parked on the side of the road, approach with caution until you are certain the area is clear of students. If red lights are flashing on bus stop and wait.

Arriving to your destination a few minutes sooner is not worth causing a tragic incident that will haunt you for the rest of your life.