School buses are required by law to stop between 15 and 50 feet from railroad crossings. Investigators have studied a videotape from a camera mounted inside the bus and have talked to a child who was wearing a lapbelt and was the least injured. According to the recording, several people were talking in the bus and the radio was playing, Suydam said, but he would not elaborate. Authorities won't decide whether to file charges until they finish the investigation, which could take two more weeks, said Highway Patrol Lt. Mike Walker. The engineer and conductor voluntarily submitted to toxicology tests and have been cooperating with authorities, Suydam said.
Results are pending.
Carrying only some bruises from the seat belt she was wearing, Brittany was home from the hospital Wednesday, soaking up hugs, gifts, and pizza. She normally didn't clip on a seat belt, but this day she did. And she was sitting three rows behind the driver when the train plowed into the bus, striking it so hard that the yellow body split from the chassis. Then she unbuckled herself, climbed out of the twisted hulk and began walking toward a nearby store. A woman driving by picked her up and delivered her to the St. Clares' convenience store, where people cared for her until the ambulance came.