Teen charged for passing school bus releasing students
WARWICK TOWNSHIP (WJER) (Nov. 18, 2024) – The Tuscarawas County Sheriff’s office is making an example out of a teenage driver who passed an Indian Valley school bus.
Sheriff Orvis Campbell says it happened in the Wainwright area the Tuesday before last while the bus was letting kids off.
“The bus was in front of them so they went left of center clear over onto the opposite side of the road and through a couple of yards to get around.”
Statements from the bus driver and other witnesses led Deputy Grant Haun to the 17-year-old responsible, who admitted to passing the bus to get home quicker.
“We’ve all been young. We all understand that, but I’ve been in this business a long time and I’ve been around when people have taken somebody else’s life with a motor vehicle inadvertently, and it’s happened numerous times and it changes not only the deceased victim’s family’s life but also the driver’s life forever.”
Campbell hopes this serves as a deterrent to others who might try to do something similar.
“We do hope it acts as a lesson for other people but also the driver. I don’t know anything about her. I don’t want to say she’s a bad person but I just hope that she just looks at it and goes, ‘Wow. I genuinely could have created a tragedy, and I’m lucky to get away with just a ticket.”
The teen will appear in Tuscarawas County Juvenile Court at a later date for the violation, which could result in her driver’s license being suspended.