One month after police began investigating the death of a school bus driver, they have concluded that “human error” by a student caused the bus to run over Laura Zborowski during a routine safety drill.
According to the Akron Police Department’s Oct. 22 traffic crash report, the accident occurred at 8:13 a.m. local time on Sept. 16. Zborowski, 51, was treated at the scene, where she succumbed to her injuries.
Investigators previously said the other three bus drivers participating in the bus evacuation drill had already finished and departed the training site, located just outside of Middlebury Academy, a K-8 charter school. The report also states the bus was parked westbound in front of 88 Kent Street on a “straight” grade (see police diagram, above).
“The bus driver (victim) was having students participate in required evacuation drills from the rear emergency door. One occupant was on the bus when the brakes released and the bus started rolling backwards (eastbound). The student jumped from the rear door and made it to the north sidewalk. The driverless bus continued eastbound when the victim, at the rear of the bus, was knocked to the ground at which time the right side wheels rolled over her,” according to the report.
Police believe a 10-year-old student accidently released the bus’ parking brake before exiting through the rear door. Zborowski has been hailed as a hero after witnesses and police said she threw the girl to safety before being dragged under the bus.
The police report also indicates Zborowski was outside the bus during the drill, which does not comply with the Ohio Revised Code. It also noted the bus drivers conducted the emergency evacuation drill on the road, rather than on school property as the state code requires.
The bus drivers work for Petermann Leasing, a subsidiary of National Express Corporation, which provides transportation for thousands of students statewide. A Petermann representative told STN the company has no comment at this time.
The Ohio Revised Code mandates schools conduct three emergency bus evacuation drills every year. Other ORC requirements include:
- The drill should take place on school grounds, not on a bus route.
- The bus driver must stay in the bus during evacuation drills.
- All drills must be supervised by at least one other staff member other than the bus driver.
- The parking brake must be on, the ignition off and the transmission set to gear or park.
