A Broward County school bus driver has died after he was hit by another school bus driver early Wednesday morning at the district’s bus lot in Pompano Beach, officials said.
Just before 5:30 a.m. Wednesday, someone reported a crash between a bus and a pedestrian near the 2200 block of Northwest 18th Street in Pompano Beach, BSO spokesperson Claudinne Caro-Guaraldi said in an email.
Steven Becker, 68, of Boca Raton, was driving a bus away from the gas pumps on the east side of the facility and made a U-turn to travel through the parking lot, the Sheriff’s Office said in a news release.
As Becker made the turn, Alfred Desmandes, 69, of Margate, was walking across the dark parking lot, and Becker told detectives he did not see the man, the news release said.
“The investigation showed that Desmandes crossed into the path of the bus causing him to be struck by the front driver’s side,” according to the Sheriff’s Office.
Desmandes was also a school bus driver, Broward County Public Schools spokesperson Keyla Concepción confirmed in an email Friday.
Desmandes was taken by Pompano Beach Fire Rescue to Broward Health North Medical Center, where he later died, BSO said.
“At this time, neither excessive speed nor impairment are considered contributing factors in this crash,” the Sheriff’s Office said Friday.
In a prepared statement Concepción shared with the Sun Sentinel, Superintendent Howard Hepburn said: “We are heartbroken by the tragic incident that occurred at the North Area Transportation Terminal on Wednesday, Sept. 9. District staff is cooperating fully with the Broward Sheriff’s Office on its investigation and crisis counselors are providing support to those grieving the loss of a beloved coworker. Our thoughts are with the individuals, families and loved ones affected by this devastating tragedy.”
Detectives are still investigating.
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