ARLINGTON, TN (abc24.com) - The fallout continues after a Shelby County School student was hit by a passing car as he got ready to get on the school bus. Bus drivers picking up kids headed to Arlington Middle School now have a new route that will keep kids from being forced to cross busy streets.
18-year-old Brandon Banks was charged with failure to maintain control as well as passing a school bus after police say he hit the 13-year-old student on Canada Road in Lakeland. Immediately, Shelby County schools changed that bus route, notifying parents that students will be picked up and dropped off on the same side of the road as their house.
Lakeland resident, Kenny Neal says, "I think it's a good thing, it's smart. I don't think any kid should cross the street."
Jason Hargrave says, "That's a big plus, because you have a lot of kids that don't pay attention to what they're doing, they're talking to their friends, or what have you. They're going to run across the street and then you've got a guy cutting through or woman putting on her makeup, not paying attention, look up last second, you never know, kind of like what happened with the young man yesterday."
Hargrave is happy the county acted quickly but the Arlington route is the only one getting changed. A spokesperson with Shelby County Schools says the system can't make the adjustment for every route.
Neal says, "I think you should do it everywhere, if you're going to do it in one spot, you should do it everywhere. Safety is safety, period."
A spokesperson with Shelby County Schools says, all bus routes are reviewed for safety throughout the year and all bus drivers are supposed to report drivers who don't stop for school buses, that way they know if changes need to be made.
Bus drivers that serve Canada Road told SCS they can't recall any time before the recent crash when a driver didn't stop for their sign and lights.
