School Bus Driver Cited For

Wills Point Police have issued a traffic citation to a Wills Point ISD school bus driver after wrapping a month-long investigation of an incident at a railroad crossing.

James Carroll Adams, the driver of the bus in question, was cited for being stopped in prohibited places after it was alleged by students on the bus that he stopped on railroad tracks on Nov. 9 to admonish a student, after which the crossing’s safety arms began coming down onto the bus as a train approached.

The incident occurred at the railroad crossing at Van Zandt County Road 3501 and U.S. Hwy. 80, on the western border of the Wills Point city limits.

According to a supplemental incident report by police, several high school students who were on Adams’ bus on Nov. 9 stated that Adams was watching the students in the mirror and was "yelling at kids when he got upset with one kid who failed to follow his directions."

The students also stated in the police report that "Mr. Adams stopped the bus and got up to yell at the kid, when the kids noticed the train and that it was getting close to them."

The report continued by stating that the students "began yelling at Mr. Adams to go (across the tracks)," but that Adams allegedly told them to "shut up" before seeing the approaching train himself, at which point, the students stated in the report, Adams "jumped into his seat and took off as the crossing arms struck the bus."

Wills Point Police Chief Scott Johnson said one of his reserve officers, Rob Powell, was on patrol that day and witnessed the crossing arms hit a school bus at that location.

Johnson also said he himself had stopped Adams’ bus and issued Adams a verbal warning for allegedly running a red light about a week prior to the railroad crossing incident.

In a supplemental incident report, Powell stated that he was unable to stop the bus safely to issue a citation at the time of the incident due to heavy traffic on Highway 80.

As of press time, Wills Point ISD Transportation Supervisor Cecil Hudson did not return a phone message left earlier this week.

Wills Point ISD Superintendent Joe Oliver could not be reached for comment and a voice mail left for him Wednesday morning was not immediately returned.