A school bus collision on Wednesday morning on St. Croix left families not only concerned about the safety of their children but also frustrated by what they describe as a lack of communication between and from emergency response agencies. While the bus driver may not have been at fault, the incident has raised significant questions about how such situations are managed, they said in calls and texts to the Source.
According to information gathered from the Education Department, the Virgin Islands Police Department and families of the affected students, the collision occurred around 7:05 a.m. Wednesday at the intersection of Routes 66 and 68 near Home Depot. A car made an illegal turn onto the highway, colliding with the front side of the school bus. The impact caused significant damage to the car and momentarily destabilized the bus, though it ultimately regained balance.
The bus was carrying students from Central High School, Educational Complex, and John H. Woodson Junior High School, according to officials.
Attorney Kye Walker, who had two nieces on board, recounted what she heard from them in the aftermath. Some students were taken back to their campuses after another bus was called, while others, who were initially told an ambulance was on its way, were left waiting for 30 to 40 minutes before realizing none was coming. The students began calling their families but some couldn’t reach them immediately.
“When I arrived, there were three other kids on the bus who couldn’t reach their families, so I took them with me too,” Walker said, adding that families then met them at the hospital. Meanwhile, her second niece was taken to Woodson on the other bus, so Walker returned there to bring her and others back as well.
Families have shared screenshots of conversations with their children throughout the day, expressing concerns about how students were separated from their siblings during the incident. Walker emphasized that the issue wasn’t the accident itself but the lack of a clear and effective protocol to manage the situation and ensure the safety and well-being of the students.
The VIPD reported that seven students were initially transported from the scene. About 15 students eventually received medical attention for minor injuries by the end of the day, according to others, who said all were released from the hospital around 2 p.m. on Wednesday. VIDP’s Sgt. Arthur A. Joseph, Sr. confirmed that the driver of the car involved in the collision was cited, but noted that as the investigation is ongoing, he has to review the information before anything becomes official.
Meanwhile, the V.I. Education Department also issued a statement early in the morning informing the public that an active investigation is underway into the incident. The statement also mentioned that parents of the affected students were “promptly contacted.”
A second statement was issued in the late afternoon, saying the department recognizes the concerns and questions that have arisen in response to the incident.
“We understand the urgency for information and the community’s need for timely updates. Our commitment remains steadfast in ensuring transparency, accuracy, and the responsible dissemination of information,” the statement said, adding that Education Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington would be making a public update on Thursday.
“During this update, additional information will be shared regarding the school bus incident. We have taken note of all media inquiries submitted to the Office of Public Relations via email and appreciate your understanding that no further statements will be made today. As this incident is currently under investigation, it is imperative that all details are thoroughly verified before being publicly shared. We are working closely with the Virgin Islands Police Department and Abramson Enterprises Bus Company to obtain complete and accurate reports,” according to the statement.
Meanwhile, the response from Juan F. Luis Hospital was commended by Walker, who noted that Ricky Evangelista, Government House legal counsel, had called ahead to alert staff to prepare for the arrival of the injured students. “JFL was great,” Walker said. “They registered and triaged the kids right away.” She added that Education leadership also came to the hospital to speak with the families present.
Despite these efforts, the overall handling of the situation has prompted calls for a clearer picture of what happened. “There needs to be a better system in place,” Walker said. “It’s not enough to just react. There has to be a protocol to ensure that our kids are safe and that parents are informed immediately.”
In a phone interview, Joseph expressed gratitude that the incident wasn’t worse and that students weren’t more severely injured. “No one was expelled from the bus, there were no broken bones or major injuries – we are glad for that,” they said. “With regards to shortcomings – there are ways we can ensure that information gets to the right people, like the families and the public, more timely, but we want to stress that there were no major injuries.”
As the investigation continues, both the VIPD and the VIDE have pledged to provide more details as they become available.
