Lafayette Parish, LA — March 14, 2025, five people were injured in a bus accident near the intersection of Duhon Road and Lagneaux Road.
Authorities said a Lafayette Parish School System bus was stopped with its lights activated when two vehicles collided behind it. The impact forced one of the vehicles into the bus.
Five students were hospitalized after the crash with undisclosed injuries, according to authorities. The other 15 students were transported to a nearby elementary school to be checked out by nurses there.
No other injuries were reported.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the Lafayette County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Crashes involving school buses stopped for passengers raise serious concerns about driver awareness, following distance, and whether all drivers had enough time to react safely. In this case, reports indicate that two vehicles collided behind a stopped Lafayette Parish school bus, forcing one of them into the bus and injuring several students. A full investigation should determine whether this was due to driver inattention, unsafe following distances, or other contributing factors.
One of the most important questions investigators should answer is why the two vehicles collided in the first place. Was one driver following too closely, or did distraction or speed play a role? Rear-end collisions often happen when drivers fail to notice stopped traffic ahead, and if that was the case here, reviewing phone records, black box data and witness statements could help determine whether driver inattention was a factor.
Another key issue is whether road and traffic conditions contributed to the crash. Was this area well-marked with signs warning of frequent school bus stops? Was visibility reduced due to weather, curves or other obstructions? If external factors played a role, investigators should examine whether additional safety measures, such as better signage or flashing warning signals, might have helped prevent the crash.
The injuries to the students also raise concerns about school bus safety procedures. Were all students properly seated at the time of impact? Did the force of the crash move passengers around the bus? While school buses are designed to be highly protective, severe impacts can still cause injuries. Authorities should evaluate whether additional safety measures, such as seat belts, could have mitigated the harm.
At this stage, there isn’t enough public information to determine exactly what led to this crash. But if authorities focus only on the fact that the bus was hit without investigating why the vehicles behind it failed to stop in time — whether due to distraction, road design or poor visibility — they risk missing key details. A thorough investigation should take all possible factors into account to ensure a full understanding of what went wrong and help prevent similar incidents in the future.
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