THE APEX TIMES
Washington County Sheriff’s Office asks for help identifying driver who passed stopped school bus
A dashcam video shows a vehicle speeding past a stopped school bus with children outside in the street, prompting investigators to request the public’s assistance.
The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s help identifying a driver who, according to investigators, passed a stopped school bus while children were getting on or off in the roadway. The request follows a video that shows a vehicle traveling around the bus after it had stopped for student pickup or drop-off.
The incident was reported to authorities last week, and the sheriff’s office said it is trying to match the vehicle and driver to the footage. Investigators are asking residents who may recognize the car, the driver, or other details visible in the video to contact the department.
In the video described by the sheriff’s office, the school bus is stopped with children in or near the street. The Washington County Sheriff’s Office said the driver appeared to continue past the bus instead of stopping as required by Kentucky law when a school bus is stopped for loading or unloading.
Kentucky’s school bus stop law generally requires drivers to stop when a school bus is stopped with its red lights activated and the stop arm extended, and to remain stopped until the bus resumes motion or the lights deactivate. Passing a stopped school bus with students outside the vehicle creates a serious risk of injury or death for children and other motorists near the scene.
The sheriff’s office is using the dashcam footage to identify the vehicle and determine what happened in greater detail, including the vehicle’s location and direction of travel relative to the school bus stop. Officials said the investigation depends on community cooperation, particularly from anyone who can add identifying information not visible on the initial video.
Residents who believe they can help are being directed to reach the Washington County Sheriff’s Office. Investigators said they are looking for information that can lead to identifying the driver, confirming the vehicle’s make, model, or identifying features, and verifying the circumstances of the bus stop.
The department did not indicate any charges in the report, and investigators said the case remains under review. Anyone contacted as part of the inquiry is expected to provide information about what they saw and any relevant context connected to the bus stop timing and vehicle movement.
Why It Matters
- Passing a stopped school bus with children in the roadway poses immediate safety risks and can lead to serious crashes.
- School bus stop violations involve state safety requirements and, when identified, can lead to criminal or civil consequences under applicable law.
- The case underscores the role of dashcam and community tips in identifying vehicles when witnesses can add details not visible on video.
- The sheriff’s office’s request for help indicates the next step depends on public identification, which can speed the investigative process and accountability.
Key Facts
- The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is seeking help identifying a driver after a video showed a vehicle passing a stopped Kentucky school bus.
- The incident occurred last week, according to the sheriff’s office.
- The video shows children near or outside the bus as the vehicle passes by.
- The sheriff’s office said the public can help identify the driver or vehicle using details seen in the video.
- The investigation remains ongoing, with authorities using the footage to determine what occurred.