A Florida school bus driver faces multiple charges after a train struck her bus carrying 29 middle school students when she ignored a railroad crossing signal. Yvonne Hampton allegedly said she was 'not gonna stop for no train' as she crossed the tracks in Bushnell. No injuries occurred, but officials described the close call as potentially catastrophic.
Yvonne Hampton, 67, was arrested following the incident on Thursday afternoon at the intersection of East Central Avenue and North Market Street in Bushnell, Sumter County. According to a probable cause arrest affidavit from the Sumter County Sheriff's Office, Hampton was transporting 29 middle school students and another adult when she drove onto active railroad tracks despite the warning system activating. Video evidence showed the path ahead was clear, contradicting her claim that a car blocked her progress, deputies wrote. As the train approached, Hampton reportedly said, 'Not gonna stop for no train,' while students yelled, 'There is a train coming!' amid screams of panic. She ordered the children to sit down just before the train swiped the back of the bus, missing a worse outcome by about six inches, according to school officials. No one was hurt, but Hampton faces 29 counts of child neglect along with charges of culpable negligence and reckless driving. She remains in Sumter County Jail without bond after more than a decade as a bus driver. Sumter County School District Superintendent Logan Brown called the event sobering in a video message, stating, 'A matter of 6 inches is the difference in all of this, and it could have been an extremely catastrophic situation.' Students shared their fear with WOFL. 'I closed my eyes as hard as I could... it could've been way worse,' said Isabelle Sinibaldi. Catherine Pharis added, 'I was in shock... all I could feel was the bus move to the side.' The district fired Hampton, noting it was her final route.