Dayton Public closes its probe of bus driver’s crash

UPDATE @ 6:46 p.m. (Oct. 2): Dayton Public schools issued the following statement late this afternoon regarding the investigation of bus driver Robin Williams, who was in a hit-skip bus crash at Smithville Road and Pleasantview Avenue in September:

“Our investigation concluded today [Oct. 2] regarding the Sept. 16 traffic incident involving bus 138. Procedures were followed in reporting the accident, and drug and alcohol tests were negative. Protocol has been followed as outlined in the collective bargaining agreement.”

Jill Moberley, DPS public information officer, released the statement.

Williams has pleaded not guilty to two misdemeanor charges of failing to maintain reasonable control and for a second hit-skip accident on Oaklawn Avenue. That accident occurred Aug. 21.

She is to be in court for that traffic case for a pretrial hearing on Oct. 6, according to online records.

UPDATE @ 9:38 a.m. (Sept. 24)

Dayton Public Schools has confirmed bus driver Robin D. Williams, 36, of Trotwood was involved in a crash sometime last week at Smithville Road and Pleasantview Avenue.

The spokesperson said it happened sometime during bus 138’s afternoon drop off but was unable to provide a specific day.

According to the spokesperson, the driver is likely still on duty because the investigation has not concluded and the district follows a progressive discipline protocol.

The district’s transportation director reached out to parents the afternoon of the crash, according to the spokesperson.

The director was unable to reach some of the parents that afternoon, so someone from the transportation office reached out the following morning, according the spokesperson.

Williams faces two misdemeanor charges for failing to maintain reasonable control and for a hit skip stemming from an incident on the afternoon of Aug. 21 on Oaklawn Avenue. Williams has pleaded not guilty.

A call to her public defender for comment has not yet been returned. Williams was unreachable by phone.

UPDATE @ 9:10 a.m.(Aug. 28)

Dayton Public Schools spokeswoman Jill Moberley said the video, provided by a neighbor with a surveillance camera, clearly showed it was a Dayton Public Schools bus.

She said the transportation staff worked with Dayton police to determine which bus was involved.

Last week, during a fleet inspection, Moberley said “no damage on any of our district buses that would indicate contact with another vehicle, and our GPS system indicated no buses in the vicinity at the time of the incident.”

She added that they are looking into why the GPS was not working at that time or in that location. The driver involved was disciplined, but the school could not disclose the disciplinary action.

“We’re glad that this was resolved,” she said.

FIRST REPORT (Aug. 27):

A hit-skip crash this afternoon involved a school bus and parked car, witnesses told Dayton police.

A woman said she saw a school bus driver hit the rear of a gray Chevrolet Monte Carlo around 2:30 p.m. at Oaklawn and Santa Cruz avenues and then continue on.

The woman said the incident involved a Dayton Public Schools bus, but DPS spokeswoman Jill Moberley said the district’s GPS does not indicate a bus was in the area at the time of the crash.

“We’re still looking into the situation to determine whether it was a Dayton Public Schools bus,” Moberley said.