Fayetteville, N.Y. — Dr. Craig Tice, the Superintendent of Fayetteville-Manlius School District, addressed the media on Tuesday regarding the recently captured incident of a car speeding past a halted bus. His message echoed the concerns expressed by the parents of the young girl involved, emphasizing the importance of drivers stopping for school buses. Responding to the Ring camera footage capturing part of the incident, Tice highlighted the severity of the situation, cautioning that a momentary lapse in judgment could have lasting consequences on a family and a child’s life.

Over the weekend, the Manlius Police apprehended the driver responsible, identified as 66-year-old Quang Pham from Syracuse. His arrest was made possible after an off-duty state trooper spotted his vehicle and recorded the license plate details. Pham faces charges of reckless endangerment and other traffic infractions, with a scheduled appearance in the Town of Manlius Court on April 9.

Moving forward, the district is taking steps to ensure the safety of its bus routes, as exemplified by the recent incident involving bus number 320 and its driver, “Miss Debbie.” Tice commended Miss Debbie’s quick response, attributing it to her extensive training which prevented a potential tragedy. The district intends to phase out older buses and equip all vehicles with external stop-arm cameras within the next four years, increasing safety measures for students and bus drivers alike.