A Broward County Public Schools bus driver died after another district school bus struck him at a transportation lot in Pompano Beach, Florida.
Alfred Desmandes, 69, was walking across the school bus parking lot shortly before sunrise Sept. 9, when he was struck by a bus driven by Steven Becker, 68. The collision occurred at approximately 5:29 a.m. at 2251 N.W. 18th St., according to a sheriff’s office traffic homicide report.
Investigators said the school bus had been positioned at the fuel pumps on the east side of the transportation building. Becker was leaving the pumps when he made a U-turn and began traveling west through the parking lot.
At the same time, Desmandes was walking southwest toward the building. Becker told detectives that he did not see Desmandes crossing the parking lot because the lot’s lights were not illuminated, the report states.
The sheriff’s office said its investigation showed that Desmandes crossed into the path of the school bus and was struck by the front driver’s side of the vehicle.
Pompano Beach Fire Rescue responded to the transportation lot and transported Desmandes to Broward Health North Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. A day later, the Broward County Medical Examiner’s Office notified traffic homicide detectives that Desmandes had died at the hospital.
The sheriff’s office stated that neither excessive speed nor impairment is considered a contributing factor in the crash. The investigation remains ongoing, and authorities have not announced any charges.
The agency has not said why the parking lot lights were not illuminated or whether investigators consider the lighting conditions a contributing factor. The traffic homicide report attributes the information about the lights to Becker’s statement to detectives.
Desmandes was reportedly a relief bus operator assigned to Broward County Public Schools’ north transportation operation. His son, Kendrick Desmandes, told local media that his father had worked as a school bus driver for more than 30 years.
Kendrick Desmandes questioned why the transportation lot was dark at the time of the collision and said he believed his father’s death could have been prevented. Desmandes’ cousin, Lundy Accime, also told local media that the family was devastated and wanted accountability for what happened while Desmandes was at work.
Following the collision, Broward County Public Schools reportedly stated that the driver involved would be reassigned from driving duties while the investigation continued.
School Transportation News contacted Broward County Public Schools and the district’s transportation department to request additional information about the lighting conditions, whether any problems had previously been reported and whether the district is reviewing its pedestrian-safety procedures. The district had not responded as of this report.
In a statement provided to local media, Superintendent Howard Hepburn said district personnel were cooperating with the sheriff’s office and that crisis counselors were available to support employees and others grieving Desmandes’ death.
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