Columbus police and Bartholomew County sheriff deputies are continuing patrols for bus stop arm violations after Monday’s fatal hit-and-run involving a 16-year-old Columbus East student, targeted patrols that always accompany the beginning of a new school year.
East junior Lily J. Streeval was killed early Monday morning in the 1900 block of Gladstone Avenue when a driver disregarded a bus stop arm and lights as she crossed the road to reach the bus and struck her, then fled the scene. Columbus police and sheriff deputies arrested Shiam Sunder Shankara Subramanian, 25, of 3224 Country Brook St., Columbus, a Faurecia engineer, on two felony charges relating to causing a death while disregarding a bus stop arm.
Police had said before school resumed at the beginning of August that they would be patrolling near buses and schools each morning and afternoon watching for stop arm infractions, speeding or other unsafe driving behaviors near school buses.
Columbus Police spokesman Matt Harris said the department had already increased its patrols around schools at the beginning of the year, after the biggest complaints seemed to be speeding by vehicles near buses and schools.
Police have also stepped up patrols on Washington Street and in the railroad overpass area where complaints had been received about speeding.
Harris said day shift officers are always watching for school bus stop arm violations. And while officers have discretion in issuing tickets or warnings on some traffic infractions, stop arm violations are not considered a discretionary offense, Harris said.
“If you disregard bus stop arms, it’s an automatic citation to the driver for us,” Harris said. “We’re not giving any breaks for that.”
Sheriff deputies are also continuing morning patrols near school buses in the county, said Sheriff Matt Myers, who said he also is out in a patrol car in the mornings on school routes in addition to the road deputies.
Myers said the best thing the state could do to assist law enforcement in enforcing bus stop arm compliance is to make it mandatory for all buses to have camera surveillance on their stop arms.
The bus that was picking up Streeval was an older bus which had camera surveillance inside the bus, but not on the stop arm, Myers said.
However, the interior camera did pick up a portion of the accident, and the sound of the accident, that can be used in the case, he said.
“The newer buses have the camera on the outside,” Myers said. “I think all school buses should have the outside cameras.”
Officials from the Bartholomew Consolidated School Corp. said that their newest buses (model year 2021) have stop arm cameras installed. When stop arms are disregarded, a photo is sent directly to the Bartholomew County prosecutor’s office for processing. Several have already been sent this year.
However, BCSC officials were not able to give a number for stop arm violations that have occurred since the beginning of school and added that such violations occur “every or nearly every day” in both the city and county.
School officials have not yet discussed policy changes directly related to Monday’s fatal hit-and-run.
“We are currently taking care of the emotional needs of our students and adults, and will do so for the next several days,” school officials said. “Any specific changes to policy or practice will come as we are able to fully review the details of the event and consult with other agencies.”
In early August, police agencies across Indiana increased patrols during the back-to-school week when motorists become accustomed to school buses being back on the road.
Gov. Eric Holcomb said the effort was part of Indiana’s Stop Arm Violation enforcement program, or SAVE blitz, which is funded by the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration through the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute.
More than 200 police agencies will participate in the blitz, which is scheduled to continue through mid-September. As part of the effort, police will be working with bus drivers and school transportation officials to identify areas where the high-visibility patrols are needed the most.
Last spring, officers who participated in the blitz issued more than 5,600 citations and 1,700 warnings, according to state officials.
Of the citations, 251 were for stop arm violations, 309 for texting while driving and nearly 1,900 were for speeding, which state officials described as “alarming.”
“Speeding around a bus or ignoring its stop arm is not only illegal, it’s reckless,” said Devon McDonald, Indiana Criminal Justice Institute executive director. “It puts everyone on the road at risk, including children, and has to stop — too much is at stake.”
In Indiana, it is illegal for motorists to pass a bus that is stopped, with red lights flashing and the stop arm extended.
This applies on all roads, with the exception of motorists who are on a highway divided by a barrier, such as a cable barrier, concrete wall or grassy median — those drivers only have to stop if traveling in the same direction as the school bus.
“If you’re driving and see yellow flashing lights, slow down and be prepared to stop,” said Robert Duckworth, the institute’s traffic safety director. “Don’t try to beat the bus. Give yourself plenty of time or just arrive late. It’s better than getting a ticket or possibly taking someone’s life.”
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration says the greatest risk to a student isn’t riding the bus, but approaching or leaving one. Drivers are encouraged to slow down, put away distractions and watch for school buses at all times.
Students should always look both ways before crossing a street and arrive at the bus stop at least 5 minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. At the bus stop, stay 6 feet (five steps) away from the curb and wait until the bus comes to a complete stop and the driver gives permission to board.
