Authorities say 29 students and a bus aide were onboard when the train struck the rear of the vehicle in Bushnell.
BUSHNELL, Fla. — A Sumter County school bus driver was fired and arrested after a train clipped the back of a bus carrying 29 students and a bus aide at a railroad crossing Thursday afternoon, authorities said, in a crash that left no reported injuries but rattled families across the district.
The case drew sharp attention because officials said the outcome could have been far worse. Investigators accused the driver of moving onto the tracks as warning signals activated, while school leaders said the close call broke the trust families place in the district’s transportation system. By Monday, the driver had been terminated, jailed and charged, and the district said it would no longer use the crossing for student transportation.
The crash happened April 2 at East Central Avenue and North Market Street in Bushnell, where a train struck the back left side of Sumter County School District bus 2517. Superintendent Logan Brown said the bus was carrying 29 students, one bus aide and the driver when the train clipped the rear corner. Brown said the difference between a near miss and a disaster was only inches. “We truly averted what could have been a catastrophic event,” Brown said in a public statement after the district reviewed what happened. School officials said administrators from South Sumter Middle School and South Sumter High School responded to the scene and helped reunite students with their parents. No injuries were reported, but district leaders said many students were shaken and upset after the impact.
Investigators identified the driver as 67-year-old Yvonne Hampton, who had worked for the district since 2015. According to the sheriff’s office arrest report, Hampton approached the crossing while another vehicle on the far side of the tracks was trying to make a left turn. Brown said that vehicle moved forward and then stopped again, leaving limited room for the bus. Hampton told investigators she did not stop on the tracks, according to the report. Deputies later reviewed bus video and audio that they said showed the crossing lights, warning bells and gate arms activating as the bus moved forward. About six seconds later, according to the report, a woman’s voice said, “Not gonna stop for no train,” before students could be heard reacting. A student then shouted that a train was coming, and seconds later the train hit the bus. Deputies said the footage showed Hampton made the decision to cross after the warning system had already begun activating.
The scene unfolded at a crossing in a residential part of Bushnell, where Brown said space beyond the tracks is tight for a school bus. He said that crossing is one of five in Bushnell and that district officials concluded this one was no longer safe for student transportation after the crash. Brown said the train conductor saw the bus on the tracks, sounded the horn continuously and tried to brake. “In my view, he’s a hero in this situation,” Brown said. Students later described fear and confusion inside the bus. Isabelle Sinibaldi said she squeezed her eyes shut and realized afterward “it could’ve been way worse.” Another student, Catherine Pharis, said she was in shock and felt the bus move sideways. Her mother, Ashley Pharis, said getting word that a child is in danger is the kind of call no parent forgets.
Hampton now faces 29 counts of child neglect without great bodily harm, along with misdemeanor counts tied to reckless driving and culpable negligence exposure to harm, according to reports cited by local authorities and news outlets. The school district said Hampton was terminated after its review and said anyone who endangers students will not continue working there. The district has not publicly identified the students who were on the bus, but Brown said staff moved quickly to support them and their families after the crash. The sheriff’s office investigation brought together witness interviews, district records and video from inside the bus. Officials have not announced any additional charges beyond those already reported, and no civil action had been publicly detailed as of Monday. The district said it is also reviewing whether more route changes or safety steps are needed at other crossings.
For families in Sumter County, the biggest fact remained simple: everyone on the bus made it home. That did little to erase the fear. Brown said the incident is something the children will remember for a long time. Students’ comments showed how quickly an ordinary ride home turned into a terrifying moment. The train conductor’s actions, the limited point of impact and what Brown described as a matter of inches all shaped an outcome that officials called fortunate. The district’s public response also signaled that school leaders wanted to show families the case would be handled quickly and publicly. By Monday, the message from administrators was direct: the route would change, the driver was gone and the district was treating the close call as a major failure in student safety.
Authorities said the case stood Monday with the driver fired, arrested and facing criminal charges, while the district moved to remove the Bushnell crossing from future bus routes. The next milestone is the court process tied to Hampton’s charges and any further safety updates from district leaders.
Author note: Last updated April 7, 2026.