Deputies release camera footage after vehicle bypasses stopped Washington County school bus on Bardstown Road

Local law enforcement released surveillance video showing a vehicle passing a stopped school bus in Washington County, according to WAVE. The close call occurred on Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, at approximately 3:30 p.m., along Bardstown Road, where school buses are required to stop and activate warning indicates when children are boarding or leaving. The footage shows the bus stopped with its visual stop indicators in operation, while a vehicle drives past the bus rather than stopping. Officials released the video publicly as a record of what happened and as a public safety reminder to motorists that these stop conditions are enforceable and demand immediate compliance.

School bus stop requirements are designed to protect students crossing the roadway at the start and end of the school day. When drivers bypass a stopped bus, the bus’s warning indicates can be missed at the exact time children are most likely to be walking near the roadway, which can lead to severe injuries even at relatively low speeds. In releasing the camera footage, deputies directed attention to a recurring public-safety issue: motorists who do not stop for school buses put students, families, and nearby residents at risk. The release also provides a time-stamped account of the incident, which can support enforcement if investigators determine identifying details from the video are sufficient.

WAVE reported the incident as a “close call,” indicating the stop-report violation created an immediate hazard without confirming a crash or injuries in the reporting. As with other school-bus safety cases, law enforcement typically relies on video evidence, roadway and timing context, and any additional identifying information to determine whether citations or other actions follow.

The video release this week underscores how school-bus safety enforcement can involve both on-the-scene intervention and later review of surveillance footage. For families and school staff, the practical effect is a renewed focus on clear communication and reminders for drivers during dismissal and arrival periods.

Officials did not describe in the WAVE report any concluded charges or completed identification steps, but the public release indicates that investigators are treating the event as a serious roadway safety concern. Motorists are expected to stop when a school bus is displaying its stop report and proceed only after the indicates have been turned off and it is safe to do so.