TERROR ON THE TRACKS: School Bus Driver, 67, Charged with 29 Counts of Child Neglect After Video Shows Train Clipping Bus
42 days ago
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A veteran school bus driver is facing a staggering 29 felony charges after a heart-stopping incident that saw a train slam into the back of a bus packed with children, all caught on chilling video.
Yvonne Hampton, 67, was behind the wheel on April 2 when she allegedly drove straight through an active railroad crossing in Sumter County, Florida, despite flashing warning lights and descending safety arms.
What happened next could have been catastrophic.
A CSX freight train clipped the rear of the bus, which was carrying 29 students and two adults at the time. Miraculously, no serious injuries were reported, but the terrifying moments leading up to the crash paint a very different picture.
Interior footage from the bus reveals sheer panic as children can be heard screaming in fear. “A train is coming,” they shout, their voices rising in desperation as the vehicle continues forward toward the tracks. Seconds later, the impact comes as the train clips the back of the bus in what authorities are calling an entirely preventable incident.
Hampton now faces 29 felony counts of child neglect, one for each student onboard, in addition to citations for reckless driving and failing to stop at a railroad crossing. Authorities say the evidence, including the onboard video, played a crucial role in the decision to charge her so heavily.
The school district wasted no time taking action, firing Hampton immediately after the incident. Days later, between April 6 and 7, she was arrested and booked into custody before being released on a $30,000 bond.
As part of her release conditions, she is barred from contacting any of the children involved and from driving a school bus.
While the lack of serious injuries is being described as nothing short of a miracle, the incident has left parents shaken and demanding answers. Investigations are ongoing, but one thing is already clear, this was a split-second decision with potentially devastating consequences.
