Car Hits Teen At School Bus Stop, Parents Seek Answers

SEVERNA PARK, MD — Allie Johnson had no idea when she woke up Oct. 24 that her life would change forever. The 15-year-old had enjoyed a normal day at Severna Park High School, but as the sophomore was climbing off the school bus with other students to head to their homes, danger was lurking just seconds away.

According to an Anne Arundel County Police report, Allie's school bus was stopped with its lights flashing and stop signs engaged on Truckhouse Road near its intersection with Westholme Lane at 2:33 p.m. Allie was the first in a group of students to cross in front of the bus. As she stepped into the other lane, an oncoming car hit her. According to witness accounts, Allie was thrown up in the air and over the hood of the car, landing face down on the hard pavement of the road.

"Our daughter suffered several serious injuries and was lying in a pool of blood from her head and nose. We are incredibly grateful for the neighbors and first responders that rushed to help her and notify us. Our daughter was taken to Shock Trauma and has been recovering at home since," Stefanie Johnson told Patch. "She has sustained multiple serious injuries, she has been healing but still has a long road to go. We are currently trying to get her to be able to have the stamina to attend school for one class a day."

Police reports show that the 76-year-old driver who is accused of striking Allie was cited for failure to yield right of way. He admitted in a statement given to police that he "wasn't paying attention" due to an emotional family situation. When he noticed Allie, he "couldn't stop fast enough."

Witness Sean Kilduff was standing in his yard when he saw the car strike Allie. Another witness, Stephanie Stevers, was in her vehicle and called 911 as soon as the accident unfolded before her.

"The car came flying over the hill, not even slowing, so I laid on my horn and he hit Allie, just missing the other students," Stevers wrote in her witness statement.

Stefanie Johnson obtained copies of the police report and the individuals' statements obtained at the scene and shared them with Patch. She is worried not just about her daughter, but the safety of other students if the only repercussions a driver faces for hitting a pedestrian crossing the street from a school bus is a charge of failure to yield right of way.

Family Urges Stronger Penalties

Tia Williams with the Office of the State's Attorney for Anne Arundel County told Patch that she could not address the case since it is under investigation.

Johnson described Oct. 24 as "the most terrifying day of our lives."

"Learning our child was hit by a car and hearing she was going to Shock Trauma just emphasized how bad the accident was and how badly she must be hurt. It is a scenario we continuously play in our heads and it has been extremely heartbreaking watching her be in pain every day and night," the mother said.

"I am angry that a driver can be not paying attention to the point they don’t see the bus, lights, signs, or even hear the bus honking and hit my daughter then be able to drive away with one ticket for a fine. The driver that neglected to stop for the bus that had its flashing lights, safety arm and stop sign extended and struck our child received only one ticked (a payable violation). The same ticket as he would have received for failing to stop for the bus and not striking a child. Multiple witnesses stated the driver made no attempts to even slow and was observed traveling 35 miles per hour," Johnson told Patch.

Her hope is that Maryland's laws are changed to impose steeper punishment of drivers who hit students approaching and leaving their school buses.

"I absolutely think there should be a steeper fine and if it leads to an accident or hitting a child, an extra charge should be added. I think at the very least the driver should have multiple citations to ensure he has to stand before a judge and face some consequences," she said.

How Often Anne Arundel Drivers Are Cited

According to data provided by the Anne Arundel County Police Department, in 2019 from January through October, there were 72 incidents where drivers failed to stop for a stopped school bus that had its flashing red lights on. An additional 10 vehicles were cited for failing to remain stopped for a stopped school bus with its flashing red lights on.

In 2018, there were 134 total violations of drivers failing to stop for a stopped school bus with flashing red lights. An additional 14 citations were issued for failing to remain stopped for a stopped school bus with its flashing red lights on. In 2017, 179 drivers failed to stop for a stopped school bus with its flashing red lights on. An additional 13 motorists were cited for failing to remain stopped for a stopped school bus with its flashing red lights on.

In 2016, more than 200 motorists failed to stop for a stopped school bus with its flashing red lights on and an additional 20 motorists failed to remain stopped for a stopped school bus with its flashing red lights on.

Jacklyn Davis with the Anne Arundel County Police Department noted that in August 2019, the department used social media to remind driver to stop for school buses loading and unloading passengers.

According to state law, motorists traveling in both directions on a two-lane road must stop, including roads with a center turning lane. Drivers traveling on a four-lane road without a median separation must stop in both directions, too, when a bus is loading and unloading passengers. Only vehicles traveling behind a bus on a divided highway with a median must stop when the bus stops.