A second-grade student in Missouri was involved in a minor collision between two school buses outside Three Trails Elementary in Independence, about 10 miles from Kansas City. The incident occurred during school drop-off on October 17, when a student was allegedly at the wheel of one of the buses. Parents of the students were initially informed of a minor incident involving the buses slowly rolling into each other, but the school did not disclose that a student caused the collision.
The student, Alannah Cheffen, was called to the front of the bus by the driver for a safety lesson on what to do in case of a medical emergency. When no other students volunteered, Cheffen was placed in the driver’s seat. She accidentally pressed a button that caused the bus to move backwards and then pressed the gas button, resulting in the minor collision. The driver reportedly did not react much to the incident, parked the bus, and continued as if nothing had happened.
Alannah’s mother, Ambrosia Holt, was shocked to learn from her daughters that Alannah was involved in the incident and had been behind the wheel. The school failed to inform Holt about her daughter’s role in the collision or that a safety lesson involving students at the wheel of a bus was taking place. While no one was injured, Holt questioned the school’s decision to have students participate in such activities without parental knowledge.
Other parents expressed concern over the incident, with some only learning about the student-involved collision after the fact. Many parents were uncomfortable with the idea of students being expected to help drive a bus or being passengers on a bus where another student was driving. The lack of notification from the school raised questions about safety protocols and the level of oversight provided during such activities involving students behind the wheel.
The Independence Police Department was not notified of the collision, and it is unclear how the bus was put into motion while a student was driving. It is also unknown whether the school district is investigating the incident or the actions of the bus driver involved. Parents and community members called for more transparency and communication from the school regarding the incident and the involvement of students in driving activities. Overall, the incident raised concerns about student safety on buses and the need for clearer protocols in such situations.
