Driver in Handcuffs After Video Shows How School Bus Ended Up Floating Down Creek

By Kara Pendleton October 28, 2018 at 3:58pm

For some parents, it isn’t just the education their children receive that takes trust on their part, but the transportation provided to get their children to and from school as well. School bus drivers are entrusted with the safety of children in sometimes hazardous conditions.

According to WGAL, one bus driver apparently didn’t take that responsibility very seriously. And it was all captured on dash cam video.

Although the bus was not full when he showed incredibly poor judgment, there was one student on the bus, which ended up floating down a creek. It began with the driver, identified as Nathan S. DeYoung of Leander, Texas, driving around barricades and driving at what appeared to be an unusually high speed for the rainy, wet conditions.

When he came up to a place where the road was overtaken by a swollen creek, he attempted to cross it anyway. The water was far too high and the school bus began to float.

But the bus not only began to float, it was dong so backward, pushed downstream by the current. WGAL wrote that “Leander police and fire officials rescued DeYoung and the student, and neither was seriously injured. The student was treated at the scene and released to their family.”

They added that, “DeYoung was then arrested and later fired by the school district for the (October 16) incident.” The district advised parents in the aftermath that bus drivers are told to never do what he did, which was cross a flooded roadway.

DeYoung was charged with “failing to obey warning signs/barricades over road and endangering a child. He was booked into the Williamson County Jail on a $10,000 bond and has since bailed out,” reported WGAL.

KTNV reported that the unidentified student who was on the bus is 12-years-old. They also noted that the bus was eventually stopped by trees, prior to rescuers being able to save DeYoung and the student.

Was the district justified in firing DeYoung?

On social media, many who commented on the story used the same refrain. “Turn around, don’t drown.” It was sage advice that the driver foolishly ignored, but fortunately this incident did not result in tragedy.

VIDEO: Chilling video of why #TurnAroundDontDrown is so important. According to the article the one child on the bus was uninjured and the bus driver was arrested. It is NEVER safe to drive or walk into flood waters. #tadd https://t.co/6uylU0nRZy

— XtremeWeather (@XWNetwork) October 27, 2018

Ugg! Turn around – don’t drown! How many times has that been said. Yet… And a school bus driver in a flood prone area around the Hill Country in TX much less! Thankfully, no injuries. Driver got just reward. #flood #turnarounddontdrown https://t.co/pFkCPiEfOf

— Jay Albrecht (@AlbrechtJay) October 27, 2018

Folks, this is a prime example of why we all tell you to “turn around, don’t drown” when you encounter flood waters.

This bus driver (I can think of a few more adjectives for him too) went… https://t.co/36RnHsa3pN

— NW GA Severe Weather (@NWGASevereWx) October 27, 2018

The Leander Police Department explained on Facebook why they opted to share a poirtion of the dash cam video with the pliblic. And it was for the reasons others on social media had noted, but with added crucial information drivers need to know.

“Oct. 16th Flooded Crossing Attempt by Bus. On the morning of Oct. 16th, during record rain and flooding in our area, a bus driver attempted to drive over a low-water crossing after driving around a barricade posted in the road indicating the road was closed due to flooding.”

“The Leander Police Department has elected to release a portion of the forward-facing video from the bus in an effort to illustrate the dangers of attempting to drive across a low-water crossing during flood conditions. The biggest factor in these circumstances is buoyancy.”

“For each foot the water rises up the side of the vehicle, the vehicle displaces 1,500 lbs. of water. In effect, the vehicle weighs 1,500 lbs. less for each foot the water rises.”

“Just two feet of water can carry away most vehicles. TURN AROUND – DON’T DROWN is not just a catchy phrase, but potentially a life-saving reminder. #turnarounddontdrown.”

There is nothing so important that it is worth risking life and limb for by attempting to cross a flooded road. Drivers are urged to use caution and good sense when driving in hazardous conditions.

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