Bus driver fired after incident Tuesday night
By LYDIA COTTRELL lcottrell@timesobserver.comDetails behind a incident involving a chartered bus carrying the Sheffield volleyball team have surfaced as the bus company takes responsibility.
While returning home from a play-off game at Otto-Eldred High School, the driver of the coach bus lost control of the vehicle. Teacher Diane Finley and Coach Scott Olsen had to take control of the moving bus and bring it to a stop.
According to Sue Anderson-Nicklin, vice-president of Anderson Coach and Travel, the driver of the bus, who she referred to as Mr. Smith, was not wearing his seatbelt as he drove the team home from Otto-Eldred. As he took a turn, she said it appeared that Mr. Smith fell out of the driver's seat of the bus.
After viewing a video captured by the on-board camera, Anderson-Nicklin said it was not clear if Mr. Smith has any other problem besides not wearing his seatbelt
"We commend Ms. Finley and Mr. Olsen for their proactive action," she said.
Anderson-Nicklin indicated that the driver had been an employee of the Anderson Coach and Travel since 2003 and had a clean safety record. Because wearing a seat belt is not only required by law but also a mandate of the company, she said, "Mr. Smith has been terminated."
She described the situation as abnormal and said, "Safety is our number one priority."
The bus was chartered through Holiday Tour, which is a like a broker that brings business to Anderson Coach and Travel. After the incident, the students were transported home by personal vehicle.
"We are grateful the kids are safe," Anderson-Nicklin added.
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Righton
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11-08-09 1:38 AM
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writer10 11-06-09 8:40 AM »Report Abuse Using coach buses is actually very common. We always got them for events more than an hour away, because most school buses are unreliable for long sustained trips. You wouldn't be possibl be one of the supporyers for 2 schools in this county as the buses are MORE than an hour trip for our kids
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alkalinegram
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11-06-09 9:17 AM
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I find it humorous what people take as "serious" vs. what people shrug off as no big deal.
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writer10
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11-06-09 8:40 AM
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Using coach buses is actually very common. We always got them for events more than an hour away, because most school buses are unreliable for long sustained trips.
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areyoukiddingme
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11-06-09 8:33 AM
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Since it was a playoff game the team gets to travel by chartered bus, as a reward for making it to playoffs. We use to have the same treatment when we were playing high school sports.
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nmpet75
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11-06-09 7:53 AM
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It was a play off game, I will assume the better bus had something to do with it. I would also say that since their hard work representing the school resulted in them going to the playoffs this type of bus would be deserving.
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samibigelow
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11-06-09 6:14 AM
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Thank you to Anderson for firing the man. I am sure there was more to it than that, and he got caught and puniched. Thanks to a small camera that recorded the trip. Good questions, why not a local company, or don't they keep their buses in good condition? Why weren't the school buses used for this, every other school uses them for games.
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Warrengrad
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11-06-09 6:00 AM
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They have had problems with Brinks too...their busses are always breaking down...
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Bailey
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11-06-09 5:44 AM
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Someone care to explain why Lewis Bussing, or Warren Bus Lines, or even Deckers for that matter isn't being used? Doesn't seem to me we should be using outside sources of transportation unless it's a coach. Or unless it's cheaper. And as for coach bussing, you have Brinks in N. Warren.
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Righton
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11-06-09 2:17 AM
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Why were they on a "chartered coach" bus??? Who is paying for that??
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