Dear Orting Families In the Orting School District emphasis is placed on safety in every area of school. That includes maintaining accurate information to you involving issues of safety. Recently, one of our school buses was involved in a single vehicle accident on Monday, April 21. Fortunately, no one was injured or reported injuries at the time. Last week, the district was able to obtain a recording of the incident from the on-board bus video camera. This recording was shared with our local police, fire, and Washington State Patrol (WSP) partners. Based on the footage, the WSP has reopened its investigation regarding the driver and the cause of the accident. Based on the district’s review of the material, we have terminated the driver effective Monday, April 21. In addition, recent media coverage featured a student who states he was injured in the accident and unattended to by first responders and the school district. The footage provided to law enforcement and our insurance providers clearly indicate proper protocols were followed. I fully understand and respect the trust parents and families place on the school district regarding student health and safety. This is something we take very seriously and work very hard to address. I want to reaffirm to our families that student safety was indeed first and foremost in our minds and in our actions once we learned of the accident. Here is a brief timeline of the incident and how it was handled. On April 21 at 2:45 pm, the bus swerved off the road into a ditch. WSP and East Pierce Fire were the first responders to the scene and immediately assessed students for any injuries. A second bus was then dispatched to transport students to the district office where they were once again checked for injuries. On April 22, a school nurse was dispatched to meet with students individually at their schools to ensure all students were fine. Finally, on that same day, our transportation director rode on the bus with students to be sure they were fine and secure in using school transportation. Our transportation department has a very safe driving record, and this was an isolated incident. Regardless, we want you to be aware as we partner with you for the safety of your child. Thank you for entrusting your child to our care. Please contact me should you have questions. Sincerely, Michelle Curry Superintendent
Posted on: Mon, 28 Apr 2014 22:40:09 +0000