Bus Driver Wayne Girard Died in Poughkeepsie Bus Accident at the Arlington Central School District Transportation Facility on Dutchess Turnpike
POUGHKEEPSIE, NEW YORK (January 11, 2026) – A school bus driver identified as Wayne Girard has tragically died after being run over by a school bus at the Arlington Central School District bus garage on Dutchess Turnpike.
Dutchess County officials are saying that the accident took place early Friday morning on December 19. Bus drivers were preparing to begin their daily routes.
Wayne Girard was run over by the rear wheels of a school bus driven by a coworker. Paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help the victim.
Despite life-saving measures, Wayne Girard died due to the severity of his injuries. The victim worked for the school district since 2017.
A full investigation into the accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Dutchess County School Bus Accidents
School buses are considered common carriers and must operate with an abundance of caution to avoid collisions. They must be particularly cautious in parking lots and garages where pedestrians are known to congregate. Pursuant to NY VTL § 1146, “every driver of a vehicle shall exercise due care to avoid colliding with any bicyclist, pedestrian, or domestic animal upon any roadway and shall give warning by sounding the horn when necessary.” School buses have large blind spots that obscure the presence of pedestrians. Bus drivers should take several actions to remain safe if they are backing up their vehicle.
- Avoid Backing Up: In most situations, the best course of action is to avoid backing up in the first place. This will necessitate bus drivers plan routes and parking so that backing up is unnecessary. Bus drivers should treat the act of backing up as inherently dangerous.
- Walk Around: Before backing up, a bus driver should get out of their seat and check all of their blind spots to ensure that there is no pedestrian anywhere near them.
- Spotter: In bus yards and depots where pedestrians congregate, bus drivers will typically need to use a spotter to help them safely back up their vehicle. The spotter must stand where a bus driver is able to maintain eye contact with them.
- Horn: Bus drivers should use their horns to alert pedestrians and other vehicles of their presence. They should also ensure that their backup alarms are functional.
If a bus driver fails to exercise proper safety protocols for backing up a vehicle and hits a pedestrian, this could be construed as negligence. If the victim of a bus accident was working at the time of a collision, they or their surviving family members will typically have recourse through the workers’ compensation system. This is a no-fault insurance scheme designed to help injured workers. There is no need for victims or surviving family members to demonstrate that one party acted negligently.
Third-Party Liability for Dutchess County School Bus Accidents
Many people are killed or seriously injured every year in school bus accidents. According to the National Safety Council, “School bus-related crashes killed 128 people nationwide in 2023, up 23% compared to the 104 deaths in 2022, according to National Safety Council (NSC) tabulations of data from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA).” Determining liability for a collision when the victim was working as an employee can be complicated. Victims or surviving family members may be able to pursue damages through a third-party liability claim. There could be numerous sources of third-party liability for a school bus collision.
- Property Owner: The company that owned or operated a bus depot or other premises in New York could be liable for a collision if it was in a dangerous condition. Generally speaking, property owners must maintain their premises in a safe condition and can be liable for failing to address hazards on their premises.
- Bus Manufacturer: The company that manufactured a bus could be liable for a collision if it was caused by some type of defect with the bus itself. For example, the brakes or other key component structures within a bus may have malfunctioned and contributed to a pedestrian accident. It is also possible that a bus lacked key safety features required by law.
- Subcontractors: If multiple companies operate within the same environment, the negligent actions of one company could injure another company’s worker. This may give rise to a third-party liability claim. It is important to determine the exact work relationship of all parties involved.
In addition to third-party liability claims, there are several situations where a company may be directly liable when one of their workers is injured or killed. Consider, for example, New York Labor Law § 200. Employers must ensure that worksites are “constructed, equipped, arranged, operated and conducted as to provide reasonable and adequate protection to the lives, health and safety of all persons employed therein or lawfully frequenting such places.” The family of any worker who died due to a hazardous job site may be able to pursue damages through a wrongful death claim.
Investigating Dutchess County School Bus Accidents
We at Richmond Vona extend our deepest condolences to the family of Wayne Girard. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to OSHA. This was a preventable tragedy that should not have taken place. Many questions still need to be answered. What is the safety record at this location? Have there been similar incidents or close calls?
Do you need more information about a Duchess County school bus accident? Our team of accident investigators is here for you. We are committed to helping workers understand their rights and protecting those rights through skilled advocacy. It is our belief that workers should never have to choose between earning a living and remaining safe at their job. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support, we may be able to assist you. You can reach out to us anytime at 716-500-5678.
