The (Anderson) Herald Bulletin (TNS)
Alyssa Shepherd is no longer in an Indiana prison.
Shepherd was sentenced to four years in prison for the reckless homicide deaths of three siblings in Fulton County. In 2018, Shepherd disregarded a school bus with flashing lights and a stop arm as the children — 6-year-old twins and their 9-year-old sister — crossed a two-lane highway to board their bus.
Although Shepherd faced up to 21 years on each of three felony counts, she received a four-year sentence. She was released from prison in 2022.
Memory of this tragedy should not be forgotten by Indiana drivers as schools reopen for the year.
In responding to the 2018 fatalities, the Indiana governor signed into law legislation that increased penalties for drivers who fail to stop when a school bus stop arm is extended.
That was a noble gesture. But it’s been tough to enforce.
That’s why a safety reminder should be a routine message from schools and state and local police. It can’t be just a Facebook posting. The message should come through an active and positive approach at school and community events.
Here are some tips that should be included:
- When backing out of a driveway, check to see whether children might be walking or biking to school nearby.
- Keep in mind that school-age children might be thinking only of getting to school and not looking out for drivers. A child might dart into the street if running for the bus.
- Slow down, particularly in neighborhoods without sidewalks.
- Know the rules of school bus lights. Yellow flashing lights indicate the bus is preparing to stop to load or unload children. Red flashing lights and extended stop arms mean the bus has stopped and children are getting on or off. Stop your car and wait until the red lights stop flashing, the extended stop-arm is withdrawn, and the bus moves before you begin driving again.
- The Indiana Criminal Justice Institute also reminds parents to tell their children to wait until the bus comes to a complete stop, the door opens, and the driver says it’s OK before approaching the bus door.
- Never allow your child to walk behind a school bus. Tell them to use a sidewalk or walk along the side of the street to a place at least five giant steps (10 feet) in front of the bus before crossing. Your child should make eye contact with the bus driver before crossing to make sure the driver can see them. If your child drops a book bag or other item, have them tell the bus driver.
In July, the National School Transportation Association found that 98,065 school bus drivers in 35 states and the District of Columbia reported that 66,322 vehicles passed their buses illegally on a single day during the school year. Projected across a 180-day school year, these sample results point to more than 45.2 million violations per year among America’s motoring public.
Tragedies, like the one involving the Fulton County siblings, can result in a bad driver going to prison. But by using safety precautions in getting on and off the school bus, such heartache can be avoided.
