Toddler's death spurs bus training

By Mary Carey
Staff Writer

Published on October 10, 2008

In response to a fatal school bus accident Sept. 30, the Amherst Regional School District has asked the state Department of Transportation to conduct a safety review and refresher training for all its bus drivers in late October.

Two-year-old Abraham Espinoza was struck at about 8 a.m. on Summer Street by the school bus that was picking up his older sister, a student at Mark's Meadow Elementary School. The Northwestern District Attorney's Office and Massachusetts State Police are investigating the accident.

<h4>‘Hard to imagine a greater loss'</h4>

"It's hard to imagine a greater loss, a greater shock than has happened here," interim Co-Superintendent Helen Vivian said at Tuesday's Regional School Committee meeting.

"It felt like one of those days that changed the chemistry in the district, and it probably will be changed forever."

The School Committee observed a moment of silence in remembrance of Abraham and the Espinoza family.

The district has been told it may take several weeks or longer to complete the investigation, Vivian said. "I expect the report will answer a lot of questions."

Vivian said the bus has been impounded and the computer removed for examination.

The bus driver is on paid administrative leave, Vivian said. She and Kathryn Mazur, human resource director for the district, have met with him and offered him and all the other drivers in the district counseling support. He may come back to work in a nondriving capacity.

"Any of us who drive anything know this is our worst nightmare," Vivian said.

The Department of Transportation is expected to conduct specially designed training for the Amherst drivers.

Drivers are required to have annual physical examinations, complete eight hours of classroom training a year, receive training in ensuring students get off the bus properly and undergo random drug and alcohol testing.

Students receive bus-evacuation training twice a year as mandated by law.

Vivian said the protocols the district has in place to respond to emergencies were followed by the acting superintendent, who stepped in because Vivian and Sprague were out of town when the accident occurred.

Marta Guevara, an administrator at the high school, has visited the family every evening since the accident, Vivian said.

Regional School Committee Chairman Michael Hussin said a Crocker Farm employee who has been a pediatric oncology counselor has been available to counsel the Espinoza family.

The Espinoza family is very appreciative of the strong showing of support they have received from the schools and community, School Committee member Sonia Correa-Pope, a friend of the family, said.

Mary Carey can be reached at mary.carey@att.net.