School bus driver no longer employed after Leander ISD crash, letter says

TRAVIS COUNTY, Texas (KXAN) — The bus driver behind the wheel when a Leander ISD school bus rolled over off the side of the street on Nameless Road, sending 16 children to the hospital, is no longer employed with the school district, according to a letter sent to Bagdad Elementary School parents Tuesday. The driver also went to the hospital.

The rollover happened on August 13 in the Sandy Creek area. The driver was cited for failing to drive in a single lane and for not wearing a seat belt, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS). Investigators found no criminal wrongdoing.

When troopers inspected the bus, they found all “four rear tires were below the tread depth of 6/32 of an inch.”

In Tuesday’s letter to parents, Bagdad principal Monica de la Garza-Conness and transportation services director Tracie Franco addressed that.

“Every LISD bus undergoes routine monthly maintenance, including tire tread checks, and our drivers perform inspections before each route. While DPS noted an observation about tire tread, it was within acceptable safety standards,” the letter reads.

The DPS investigation also “noted limited seat belt use among students.”

In response to that, school officials said in the letter the district drivers will now check seatbelt use before driving off.

“These expectations for our staff members will be added to our transportation and district handbooks,” the letter said. “While state law does not hold districts legally responsible for seatbelt use, we expect students to buckle up whenever seatbelts are available.”

Leander ISD provided resources for students and families impacted by the crash.

“I know the impact of what has happened may remain with us for some time in the weeks ahead. Please know we are here to support and encourage you to reach out if your child or family needs assistance,” the Tuesday letter closed with.

The National Transportation Safety Board has also opened an investigation into the matter. That is ongoing.