COLUMBUS, Ohio — There are still many questions about how a Columbus City Schools bus nearly got hit by a train on Brice Road earlier this week.
Bill Ellis, a pre-service instructor for central Ohio school bus drivers, under the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, said new bus drivers have to take 15 hours of classroom instruction.
When approaching a railroad crossing, Ellis said bus drivers are asked to pull up to the tracks no closer than 15 feet but no further than 50 feet.
“For railroad crossings, that’s one of the main things we concentrate on because railroad crossings have the most potential for danger,” he said. "Typically depending on the circumstances, we train that once you have clearance to get across the tracks, completely across the tracks to the other side as you are going across looking and listening, if the safety gate would happen to go down, we train the drivers to continue through and bus through the other gate,” added Ellis.
In the video, the railroad crossing gate could be seen resting atop the school bus.
Columbus City Schools responded to the incident in a letter sent to families impacted.
Rodney Stufflebean, the district's executive director of transportation, said the bus first stopped at the railroad crossing in accordance with regulations. When the driver began to cross the tracks, Stufflebean said they quickly noticed an oncoming train that was approaching faster than expected and before the track’s warning system activated.
Stufflebean said the driver then decided to reverse the bus, emphasizing that the district's drivers are "extensively trained for situations like this."
The district said its internal review, which included additional video and speaking with state and local authorities, confirmed that all safety protocols were "followed precisely."
"The driver’s quick thinking and adherence to these protocols reflect the rigorous training our drivers receive to prioritize the safety of every student on board,” Stufflebean said in the letter to parents.
According to the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio, there have been no reported complaints about the safety signals working improperly at that crossing.
Norfolk Southern, the company in charge of that rail crossing says the equipment at this crossing activates once the train is about 30 seconds away from the crossing.
Ellis said bus drivers have a big responsibility.
“Not only are we driving on populated highways, 60 mph, at times we have 60 kids behind us making noise, it’s hard to concentrate on the job,” said Ellis.
"Parents should always have concerns for student safety. We are hauling the most precious cargo there is,” he added.
Ohio State Highway Patrol is still looking in to the incident.