Driver Faulted for Student's Bus Fall
Jackisha Bayard fell out of the Emergency Exit door, which was left open
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Bus
"I remember nothing, because after I woke up I was in the hosptial," said Middle school student Jackisha Bayard.
Bayard is still recovering from a severe injury from when she tumbled out of a Miami-Dade school bus, which happended at 46th Street and NW 12th Avenue, near Allapattah Middle School.
The driver told investigators students were being rowdy on the bus and throwing raisins after he picked the students up, and instead of taking them to their destination, he chose to return to the school.
The School Board investigation indicates the driver, Jean Michael, was at fault, that he drove off not realizing that Baynard was lying in the street as he moved away. The investigation found that when she fell out , her head was first to make contact with the roadway and she was unconscious.
The report also states that had Michael checked all the mirrors while the bus was in motion, he would have seen the emergency exit door was open.
" I think it's a big concern," said Barry Snyder, Baynard's attorney. "The law is that the bus has to stop when there is an emergency door open and the bus driver has to keep order on that bus."
In addition to suspending Michael, before school started the School Board sent all drivers for additional training.
"Everyone of them recieved eight hours of professional training, specialized training on situations like this," John Schuster, with the Miami-Dade Schools, said.
The School board said that although its drivers have to follow the rules, parents should also sit down with their kids and go over the rules they have to follow -- not just in school but on the bus as well.
