A 17-year-old girl has been cited for failing to stop for a school bus after allegedly driving recklessly through a front yard to pass the bus as it released students, according to the Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s Office.
The incident occurred on Nov. 5 in the Wainwright area, where deputies received a report of a car going left of center and cutting through private property to pass an Indian Valley School bus. Witnesses told investigators they saw the car ignore the bus’s stop signal, prompting Deputy Grant Haun to launch an investigation.
The juvenile driver admitted to intentionally passing the bus in an effort to get home more quickly, officials said. She was issued a citation for failing to stop for a stopped school bus, a violation of Ohio Revised Code Section 4511.75(A), and will appear in Tuscarawas County Juvenile Court at a later date.
“Passing a school bus could lead to an unimaginable tragedy,” the sheriff’s office said in a statement. “We handle these types of cases very seriously and will always prioritize charging suspects for these offenses. Please slow down and navigate around bus traffic with the utmost care and safety.”
Authorities emphasized the importance of adhering to traffic laws designed to protect school children and urged drivers to remain vigilant when near school buses.
