In a candid video briefing Thursday, Education Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington addressed growing concerns over a school bus crash on St. Croix that left parents and the public questioning the department’s communication protocols.
The incident occurred at 7:02 a.m. on Wednesday, when Bus 11, packed with 40 students from Central High School, Educational Complex, and John H. Woodson Junior High School, was struck by another vehicle. The collision happened at the intersection of Route 66, where the car made an illegal turn onto the highway, colliding with the front side of the school bus, officials said. The impact caused significant damage to the car, along with the bus’s back tire and parts of its body.
Wells-Hedrington outlined the sequence of events, revealing gaps in how the situation was handled. The bus driver immediately contacted the Abramson Bus Company office, which then reported the accident to 911 and the Virgin Islands Police Department. A representative from the bus company remained on-site until all students were safely picked up. However, it wasn’t until 9 a.m. — nearly two hours after the crash — that VIDE was officially notified, she said.
In the aftermath, the driver conducted a wellness check on the students, with seven reporting pain in their necks, backs and abdomens. VIPD officers arrived at the scene to take statements while Abramson arranged for another bus to transport students who felt well enough to continue to school. Most of the students returned to class, but two were taken to the hospital for further examination, Wells-Hedrington said.
School principals took immediate action to reach out to students and their parents, ensuring that all were examined by school nurses. Despite their efforts, some parents couldn’t be contacted, she added.
“This event highlights the urgent need for VIDE to enhance communication protocols with vendors who provide services to the department,” she said, emphasizing that the safety and well-being of students must be the top priority.
VIDE has since met with the bus company to establish clearer protocols for handling such incidents, ensuring that all future emergencies are addressed promptly and appropriately. The investigation is ongoing, with VIPD still finalizing their report, but preliminary findings indicate that the bus driver was not at fault, she said, while promising a thorough review of the department’s response and vowing to address any deficiencies in the current system.
“We must ensure that parents are notified promptly and that all decisions are made in the best interest of our students and families,” she said.
Nothing was found to indicate that the bus driver was in the wrong.
