CLAY COUNTY, Fla. — Action News Jax cameras were rolling as school buses sped through local neighborhoods with students on board.
We started investigating the issue after last month's crash involving 3 buses in Clay County.
Several witnesses told our crews the driver who caused it was speeding. Now we're putting other buses to the test.
We caught some going nearly 20 miles over the posted speed limit. We spoke with one former driver off camera because she said she's afraid of losing her current job with the school district.
She said a shortage of drivers is putting more work on those still driving students in Clay County and they have to speed to keep on schedule.
We tracked a school bus going 65 miles an hour in a 55 mile per hour zone – it was taking kids home around Penney Farms.
In exclusive video shot following several Clay County school buses, we also caught one bus doing 40 in a 25.
One bus drops kids off, then takes off at speeds around 65 miles an hour on the rural highway – it was in a 55 mile per hour zone.
“It's kind of scary,” said Jamie Lodge, whose son Carter will be in a Clay County school in a few years. “Getting the kids to school safe is the most important thing.”
Trending on ActionNewsJax.com:
- Report: JSO officer paid for sex, sexually battered prostitute
- Woman, son beat up after freeing dog from hot car in Clay
- Veteran killed in first homicide in Fernandina Beach in 9 years
- Video: Enormous sawfish caught off Florida pier
- Woman chases convicted video voyeur out of Yulee Target
[ More popular and trending stories ]
We spoke off camera to a former Clay County bus driver. She said some drivers, but not all in the district, speed to make sure they keep their routes on time.
In an April 18 crash involving three buses in Middleburg, the Florida Highway Patrol cited Clay County bus driver Lisa Spinek for careless driving in the chain reaction crash.
A witnesses' 911 call mentions speed as a factor that may have sent at least a reported 23 students to the hospital with minor injuries.
“I was following it and it was speeding by me, so that's why it crashed into the other bus three buses crashed because of that back bus driver,” the 911 caller said.
Clay County school officials sent us a statement saying no Clay County school bus drivers have been cited this school year for speeding while behind the wheel of a bus and that drivers have plenty of time to complete their routes.
District officials tell us they do what they can to make sure the routes are reasonable and that their drivers and staff are regularly trained. The district sent us the following statement:
"If school bus drivers have concerns about their routes, they should bring them to the immediate attention of their supervisor. The district's transportation department makes every effort to schedule routes that are efficient and reasonable given the local speed limits and traffic conditions, and our drivers and other transportation staff are engaged in regular training to ensure the safety of our students, staff, and the traveling public. From the records we have already provided Paige that are responsive to her request on this matter confirming that only two drivers have been cited for speed-related offenses since the start of the school year, please note that neither of those offenses were in district vehicles. Bus drivers are in fact subject to citation if they are caught speeding, just like any other motorist, and concerned citizens are encouraged to contact law enforcement if they witness a school bus exceeding the posted speed limit. However, no Clay County school bus drivers have been cited for speeding while behind the wheel of a school bus this year."