By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
The Washington State Patrol has found that inattention on the part of the driver caused the accident on Tuesday night that sent a school bus loaded with teenagers across a two-lane highway and 50 to 75 feet down an embankment into a swamp near Toledo.
Driver Ronnie H. Withrow, 53, will be ticketed for running the stop sign at the top of the Interstate 5 freeway off ramp, state patrol spokesperson Trooper Will Finn said this morning.
Withrow initially stated the brakes on the bus failed, but an inspection found no problems with the brakes, the state patrol reported yesterday.
None of the passengers were seriously injured, and Withrow has been praised by responders for guiding the bus through a narrow space between a sign and a guard rail as it traveled downhill.
Finn said this morning he had no information on what Withrow was distracted by.
“I just know the investigation has come to a conclusion and that’s what the trooper has decided,” Finn said.
Finn said hoped to learn more from the investigating trooper when the trooper comes back on duty this afternoon.
Withrow had been placed on administrative leave from the Winlock School District. He has not returned a phone call seeking comment.
Finn did say no skid marks were found at the scene, and it appeared Withrow shouted for everyone to hold on after he’d already gone through the stop sign. He added it was concluded the driver did not fall asleep, as he took the exit.
After a commercial vehicle inspector found no mechanical failures or defects with its braking system, the investigating trooper had to go back and ask more questions, Finn said.
Withrow began driving a school bus for Winlock in September, and drove for other schools before that, according to District Superintendent Shannon Criss.
Criss was unavailable this morning, but issued a prepared statement in which she said she is reviewing with legal counsel on the matter. And, she noted: “Student safety is always our primary concern.”
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For background, read “School bus wrecks off I-5 into swamp near Toledo” from Wednesday April 10, 2013 at 7:28 a.m., here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Perhaps before people start making assumptions they should talk to the kids and coaches on the bus that all say the driver was pumping the brakes like crazy…. just sayin
All I can say is; I’m glad my kids won’t be riding the busses around here.
Someone’s getting fired!
Also it says there was no skid marks but I’m guessing there was 37 skid marks after that ride.