REPORTER SHELDON INGRAM HAS THE STORY. FIRST STUDENT BUS COMPANY IS A TARGET OF A LAWSUIT, THE RESULT OF A TEN YEAR OLD GIRL SUFFERING INJURIES IN TWO SEPARATE ACCIDENTS. HER STUDENT SAYS IT IS THE MOST TRUSTED BUS COMPANY AMONG SCHOOL DISTRICTS IN THE COUNTRY, BUT A LAWSUIT IS CHALLENGING THE BUS COMPANY’S REPUTATION. THE PUBLIC NEEDS TO KNOW THAT FIRST STUDENT CONTINUES TO HIRE NEGLIGENT DRIVERS, ATTORNEY KATIE KILLIAN REPRESENTS THE FAMILY OF A TEN YEAR OLD GIRL WHO SUFFERED HEAD INJURIES IN TWO SEPARATE ACCIDENTS ON FIRST STUDENT VANS. THIS IS ONE WHEN POLICE ARRESTED BUS DRIVER JEFFREY IRWIN AND CHARGED HIM WITH DUI AND RECKLESSLY ENDANGERING THE WELFARE OF CHILDREN. WITNESSES SAY HE CRASHED INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE AND THEN FLED WITH CHILDREN ON BOARD, INCLUDING THAT TEN YEAR OLD GIRL. THIS WAS MAY OF LAST YEAR. KILLIAN SAYS SHE CALLED HER FAMILY IN DISTRESS. THE CHILDREN WERE TERRIFIED WHEN SHE HIT HER HEAD. YES, SHE STUCK HER HEAD UP AND HE CONTINUED TO DRIVE AND SHE CONTACTED HER BROTHER WITH A CELL PHONE, AND THEN HER BROTHER CONTACTED 911 AND BEGAN TO FOLLOW HER ON GPS BECAUSE THE DRIVER WOULD NOT PULL OVER. POLICE STOPPED THE VEHICLE ON THE 16TH STREET BRIDGE, WHERE THE FIRST STUDENT DRIVER WAS ARRESTED. KILLIAN SAYS THE SAME CHILD SUFFERED ANOTHER CONCUSSION WHEN A FIRST STUDENT BUS DRIVER CRASHED IN 2024, THE LAWSUIT SAYS. FIRST STUDENT IS RESPONSIBLE FOR THE DRIVERS THEY HIRED. THERE IS A COUNT UNDER PENNSYLVANIA LAW FOR NEGLIGENT HIRING, ENTRUSTMENT AND SUPERVISION. A SIMPLE BACKGROUND CHECK OF MR. IRWIN WOULD HAVE SHOWN THAT HE HAD A PRIOR DUI. WHAT IS YOUR ASSESSMENT OF THAT COMPANY? WELL, I DON’T THINK THAT THEY SHOULD BE TRANSPORTING CHILDREN. I MEAN, LOOK, CHILDREN’S SAFETY IS OF THE UTMOST IMPORTANCE. AND RESPONDING TO THE LAWSUIT, HER STUDENT SAYS IT WILL NOT COMMENT ON PENDING LITIGATION. COVERING ALLEGHENY COUNTY ON PITTSBURGH’
First Student school bus company sued after student injured in Pittsburgh DUI crash
First Student school bus company sued after student injured in Pittsburgh DUI crash
Updated: 7:08 PM EDT Mar 25, 2026
Based on details in a lawsuit filed in Allegheny Common Pleas Court, two school van accidents resulted in a 10-year-old girl suffering two concussions while riding as a passenger in First Student Vans.Katie Killion, of Kontos Mengine Killion & Hassen, says one of the accidents was the result of the First Student driver operating the van while driving under the influence of alcohol, while carrying students.Jeffrey Irwin was arrested on the 16th Street Bridge and charged with DUI and recklessly endangering the welfare of children on May 30, 2025.”The public needs to know that First Student continues to hire negligent drivers,” says Killion.Irwin passed away before his preliminary hearing, but Killion says First Student should still be held accountable for suspect hiring practices when employing drivers.”There is a count in Pennsylvania law for negligent hiring,” she says. “A simple background check of Mr. Irwin would have shown he had a prior DUI.”Download the WTAE app to stay connected with breaking news. Sign up for our email newsletters to get breaking news in your inbox.
PITTSBURGH —
Based on details in a lawsuit filed in Allegheny Common Pleas Court, two school van accidents resulted in a 10-year-old girl suffering two concussions while riding as a passenger in First Student Vans.
Katie Killion, of Kontos Mengine Killion & Hassen, says one of the accidents was the result of the First Student driver operating the van while driving under the influence of alcohol, while carrying students.
Jeffrey Irwin was arrested on the 16th Street Bridge and charged with DUI and recklessly endangering the welfare of children on May 30, 2025.
“The public needs to know that First Student continues to hire negligent drivers,” says Killion.
Irwin passed away before his preliminary hearing, but Killion says First Student should still be held accountable for suspect hiring practices when employing drivers.
“There is a count in Pennsylvania law for negligent hiring,” she says. “A simple background check of Mr. Irwin would have shown he had a prior DUI.”
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