Inset: Yvonne Hampton (Sumter County Jail). Background: The bus in Sumter County, Florida, that Hampton was driving was struck by a train after she allegedly ignored a railroad crossing signal (WOFL).
A Florida bus driver is now in custody after a school bus filled with children was struck by a train. The driver allegedly disregarded a railroad crossing signal, reportedly stating she was “not gonna stop” for the approaching train.
Yvonne Hampton, aged 67, is facing 29 charges, including child neglect, culpable negligence, and reckless driving, as detailed by the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office.
The alarming incident unfolded on Thursday afternoon at the intersection of East Central Avenue and North Market Street in Bushnell. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit obtained by Law&Crime, Hampton, who was transporting 29 middle school students and another adult, claimed a vehicle in front of the bus was preventing her from advancing. However, video footage revealed that Hampton had made the conscious decision to cross the tracks despite the railroad warning system being activated, deputies noted.
As the bus moved over the tracks, Hampton was reportedly heard saying, “Not gonna stop for no train.” The video also captured the students’ rising panic as they realized the train was approaching.
“There is a train coming!” one student shouted, as the sounds of fear and chaos were recorded, according to the police report.
Hampton instructed the children to sit down, and the train subsequently clipped the back of the bus.
No injuries were reported. But Sumter County School District Superintendent Logan Brown said the incident could have turned into a tragedy.
“When you really understand how close this was, it’s sobering,” he said in a video message posted online. “A matter of 6 inches is the difference in all of this, and it could have been an extremely catastrophic situation.”
The district fired Hampton, who had been a bus driver for over a decade, after the incident.
“This was her final route,” he said.
Local Fox affiliate WOFL spoke with some of the students who were on the bus.
“I closed my eyes as hard as I could before that, and I’m thankful that nothing really bad happened, but it could’ve been way worse,” Isabelle Sinibaldi told the TV station. “I was crying because I was scared. I was glad that I wasn’t dead. But I was also crying because I couldn’t move.”
Said Catherine Pharis: “I was in shock. I was scared because all I could feel was the bus move to the side.”
Hampton is currently in the Sumter County Jail without bond.
