Homer Central School District Bus Crashed Into Ditch By South Hill Road and Singleton Road in Truxton
TRUXTON, NEW YORK (February 10, 2026) – At least three students were hospitalized with injuries after a Homer school bus crash by the intersection of South Hill Road and Singleton Road.
Cortland County officials are saying that the accident took place around 8:35 AM on Monday. A Homer Central School District bus with elementary school students left the road and crashed into a ditch.
Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help all of the victims. A seven-year-old boy, a seven-year-old girl, and a nine-year-old boy were all transported to Upstate University Hospital.
At least two of the victims sustained head injuries. Several other students reportedly suffered minor injuries in the crash. Photos of the accident site showed the roadway was snowy when the bus crashed into the ditch.
However, the circumstances leading up to the collision still remain unknown at this time.
Liability for Homer School Bus Accidents
School bus drivers are considered common carriers. They must operate with an abundance of caution to avoid any accident that could cause harm to passengers. This requires that they maintain a safe speed at all times. Pursuant to NY Veh & Traf L § 1180, “No person shall drive a vehicle at a speed greater than is reasonable and prudent under the conditions and having regard to the actual and potential hazards then existing.” Bus companies should take several actions to help prevent bus accidents.
- Training: School bus drivers should undergo rigorous background checks and training. Operating a school bus is substantially more difficult than driving a passenger vehicle.
- Vehicle Upkeep: Every part of a school bus should be routinely inspected and well maintained. This includes the brakes, steering, tires, and other core equipment.
- Compliance: Bus companies must ensure that their drivers are compliant with all hours-of-service requirements. These drivers should take periodic breaks to prevent fatigue.
- Safety Culture: Bus companies should promote a safety culture and prioritize defensive driving. There should be a zero-tolerance policy for any type of reckless operation of a school bus.
If a school bus driver fails to maintain a safe speed to prevent their vehicle from leaving the roadway, this could form the basis of a negligence claim. Even traveling the speed limit could be considered negligent, depending on the prevailing road conditions. When a school bus driver operates their vehicle negligently, their employer could also be held at fault for the collision. According to Judith M. v. Sisters of Charity Hosp., 93 N.Y.2d 932, 933 (1999), employers can be liable for the actions of their workers “so long as the tortious conduct is generally foreseeable and a natural incident of the employment.”
Steps to Take After Truxton School Bus Accidents
School buses are typically quite safe, but many children are still injured in school bus accidents every year. According to Campus Safety, “While school buses remain one of the safest modes of transportation for students, it is estimated that 108 people are killed and 13,200 are injured in school bus accidents each year.” It is important for parents of any child injured in a school bus accident to take certain measures.
- Medical Evaluation: Children should receive a thorough evaluation and treatment as early as possible. Many of the injuries associated with a school bus collision will not be immediately obvious. This is particularly true for head injuries. A traumatic brain injury can have far-reaching implications for a child’s neurological development.
- Continuing Treatment: It is important to continue to seek all required follow-up treatment after any injury. Failing to seek follow-up treatment after being injured in a collision can lead to a number of health and legal complications. Among other things, insurance companies may argue that gaps in a person’s treatment demonstrate that they were never that seriously injured in the first place.
- Police Report: The police report for the accident should be sought and carefully examined. This report will contain an officer’s initial impression of what may have led to a crash. This could include inclement weather and poor driving decisions on the part of any school bus driver.
- Independent Review: Parents of any child injured in a school bus crash should seek an independent review of the collision by a legal team experienced in personal injury claims. They can perform a thorough analysis of the crash, collect all available evidence, and take steps to hold all liable parties accountable.
The vast majority of school bus accidents are preventable. In many situations, they may involve liability on one or more parties. Part of the problem is that many school bus drivers are simply not as familiar as they should be with driving in severe winter weather conditions. It is important for the family of any child injured in a school bus crash to understand they do have legal rights. They are able to hold the school district or private company that operated the bus fully accountable through a personal injury claim.
Investigating Cortland County School Bus Accidents
We at Richmond Vona extend our best wishes to all of the students injured in this Truxton school bus crash and their families. It is our sincere hope that they will be able to make a full recovery. This was a preventable collision that should not have taken place. Many questions still remain unanswered. When was the last time this bus was serviced? What was the speed of the bus driver prior to the crash?
Have you or someone that you care about been injured in a New York school bus collision? You may be entitled to compensation. Our team of experienced bus accident attorneys is here for you. We are committed to helping accident victims get the medical and financial support that they need to recover. In fact, we have achieved numerous seven-figure settlements on behalf of our deserving clients. Whether you just have legal questions or are wondering how an attorney might be able to help with your particular situation, we are here to assist you. You can contact us anytime at 716-500-5678.
