The National Transportation Safety Board concluded that the Riverside Community School District did not ensure that 74 year old Donald Hendricks was physically fit to drive a bus that caught fire in December of 2017. Hendricks and passenger, 16 year old Meghan Klindt died in that fire.
The report shows that Hendricks had medical issues leading up to that accident. The bus became stuck in a ditch and caught fire. Hendricks and Klindt were unable to exit the bus and died in the fire.
The NTSB released documents that the district knew about the medical condition of Hendricks but they did not ask for an exam.
This is not about discrimination but about "keeping people not medically fit from driving a school bus full of children," NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said Tuesday.
Sumwalt said he wanted to send a message to all school districts, and won't only blame the last person who made a mistake.
Tuesday afternoon, Riverside School District Superintendent Timothy Mitchell issued a response to the findings:
"The Riverside School District appreciates the work of the National Transportation Board (NTSB) in this matter. The district has fully cooperated in the investigation. Our top priority is the safety of our students and staff," Mitchell said.
Photo courtesy of 6 News.