A Milan-area school bus near miss has renewed warnings about drivers who ignore flashing lights and stop arms while children are getting on or off buses.
An 11-year-old student was not physically injured but was shaken Tuesday after a vehicle passed a stopped bus along one of Milan Area Schools’ routes in Washtenaw County, Milan Area Schools Superintendent Ryan McMahon said. The Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office said the case remains under active investigation.
The child’s grandmother, Jennifer McComas, said he was getting off the bus on Willow Road when a vehicle came over the railroad tracks, went around a white Dodge truck that had stopped for the bus and continued past the bus as he crossed the road.
The family later watched home security video of the incident.
“My heart went to my stomach,” McComas said. “Poor kid. He never should even have to experience that.”
McComas said she hopes drivers understand how quickly impatience can put a child in danger.
“Nowhere in the world do you need to be that big of a hurry,” she said. “This isn’t just about your life. This is about somebody else’s life.”
McMahon said Milan buses have interior cameras, but not exterior cameras. The district is now getting quotes for exterior bus cameras and installation, with current estimates coming in at more than $100,000 to equip all district buses.
The district is seeking grant funding and reviewing whether sinking fund revenue could be used, McMahon said.
“Unfortunately, the district has experienced other occurrences of drivers ignoring the stop arm and flashing lights from our buses,” McMahon said, though he said those incidents are rarely similar to this one.
The district reports incidents to law enforcement when it can provide license plate numbers, he said.
“The district urges all drivers to stay alert, exercise caution, and follow the law at all times, but especially when in the vicinity of a school bus,” McMahon said.
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office Commander H. Eugene “Geno” Rush said residents who see a driver pass a stopped school bus should try to get a license plate number, if possible. They should also note the vehicle’s color, make, model and last direction of travel.
Reports should be made to the sheriff’s office at 734-994-2911 or 734-973-7711, Rush said. Home security video, dash camera video or other witness video can also help.
Michigan law requires drivers to stop at least 20 feet from a school bus when its red lights are flashing, unless they are traveling in the opposite direction on a divided highway. The Michigan State Police Office of Highway Safety Planning also reminds drivers to prepare to stop when a slowing bus has its yellow lights flashing.
“When motorists see a school bus with its amber lights activated, slow down,” Rush said. “When the red lights are activated, STOP. Red means stop, especially when it’s on a school bus. Think it could be your child, relative or friend. Just slow down when yellow and stop when red.”
The problem is not limited to one bus route. A one-day survey of 3,153 Michigan school bus drivers in May 2025 reported 2,207 illegal passes, according to Michigan State Police. A similar one-day survey in 2024 reported 1,362 illegal passes.
For McComas, the Milan-area incident is a reminder that a few seconds of impatience can put a child’s life at risk.
“Just pay attention,” she said.
Featured image: A Milan Area Schools bus is shown. The district says its buses have interior cameras, but not exterior cameras. Photo by Heather Finch
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