(The following story by Barney Lerten appeared on the Bend Bugle website on June 8.)
BEND, Ore. — A Bend-La Pine school bus driver was suspended Tuesday after a frightening few moments at a railroad crossing in Deschutes River Woods: The bus, full of middle-school students, became stuck on the tracks when a crossing gate came down on its roof – as a freight train headed for it.
Fortunately, the driver, Jeff Bredeson, 47, was able to back up the bus, so the gate lowered in front of it. What’s more, the approaching southbound Burlington Northern-Santa Fe freight train was able to stop before reaching the crossing, said school district spokeswoman Laurie Gould.
There were no injuries in the incident, which occurred shortly before 7:30 a.m. as the bus headed east on Baker Road toward Highway 97.
The bus proceeded to High Desert Middle School to drop off the 43 students aboard. Bredeson was met there by officials with the school district’s (www.bend.k12.or.us) Transportation Department, and the route was completed by another driver, Gould said.
Students met with Principal Brian Lauchlan, who discussed the incident with them and identified any students that were upset by what had occurred, Gould said. Parents were notified by phone, and a brief report was sent home with students Tuesday afternoon.
School bus drivers are required by law to stop at all railroad crossings, turn on their flashing lights, and open their doors, in order to look and listen for an approaching train, the spokeswoman explained. Bend-La Pine Public Schools drivers receive at least 20 hours
Bredeson has been a district employee for three years. He will remain suspended while an investigation determines whether district procedures and state laws were followed, Gould said, adding that the Transportation Department reported the incident to the Deschutes County Sheriff’s Office shortly after it occurred.
“From what I understand, he did stop before he went into the crossing, proceeded forward and the arm came down,” Gould said. “But obviously, our procedures weren’t followed, or there wouldn’t have been a crossing arm on top of the bus.”
Burlington Northern officials also will investigate what transpired, she said.
“If the train had been coming full barrel, it’s hard to say what would have happened,” Gould said. “From what folks say, trains in that area go pretty fast.”
After the incident, the bus driver reportedly exchanged words with the train crew, one student’s parent told Bend.com / the Bend Bugle, and Gould indicated district officials heard the same report.
“There were pretty shaken up people all around, especially the adults, who thought about all the ‘what-ifs’” Gould said. “The kids just go, ‘Oh well.’”