PADUCAH, KY — A western Kentucky driver was cited for reckless driving after authorities say he crashed into the back of a stopped school bus while students were getting off Tuesday afternoon.
The McCracken County Sheriff’s Office said the collision happened around 2:40 p.m. in the 3300 block of Olivet Church Road near Pace Drive. Deputies described it as a two-vehicle crash involving a school bus and a passenger vehicle traveling south.
Investigators said the bus was already stopped with its safety equipment activated when the car struck it from behind. The bus was carrying 27 students at the time.
Deputies say the bus had its warning devices activated
According to the sheriff’s office, the bus had its stop arm extended, its stop sign out and its red flashing lights on while children were unloading. Those warnings are meant to alert nearby motorists that passengers are entering or leaving the bus.
Authorities have not said whether any of the students were on board the bus, off the bus, or still in the process of exiting when the crash happened. They did report that one minor suffered a non-incapacitating injury.
The condition of the child was not described as life-threatening, and officials did not release additional details about the student involved.
Driver identified as 48-year-old Leroy Smith of Kevil
Deputies identified the driver of the passenger car as 48-year-old Leroy Smith of Kevil. Investigators said he hit the rear of the bus while both vehicles were heading south.
The sheriff’s office said Smith was cited for reckless driving in connection with the crash. No additional charges were announced.
Officials have not said what caused the driver to strike the bus or whether any other factors were being investigated.
Smith was taken to a hospital with non-incapacitating injuries
Mercy Regional Ambulance Service transported Smith to a local hospital after the collision. Authorities said he had non-incapacitating injuries.
The sheriff’s office did not provide an update on whether he remained hospitalized or when he might be released.
No information was released about damage to either vehicle beyond the fact that the bus was hit from behind during the unloading of students.
School bus crashes raise safety concerns when students are boarding or leaving
Crashes involving stopped school buses are especially serious because they can happen while children are most exposed. In this case, deputies said the bus was following standard safety procedures with warning devices in use.
The sheriff’s office response focused on the location, the timing and the activated equipment, all of which suggest the bus was clearly visible as it unloaded students.
Authorities did not say whether the road was closed after the crash or how long the scene remained active. They also did not release the name of the bus driver or the school district involved.
What McCracken County authorities have and have not said
The sheriff’s office has confirmed the crash location, the time, the number of students on the bus and the injuries reported. It also identified the driver cited in the wreck and said the bus was stopped during unloading.
Officials have not released any further information about the minor’s age, the severity of the injuries beyond non-incapacitating, or whether anyone else was treated. They also have not said if investigators expect to file any additional citations.
For now, the case remains centered on a rear-end crash that happened while a school bus was clearly marked and stopped to let children off.
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