Local Media, Blogger, Mistakenly Report
Atlanta Crash as School Bus Accident

The recent bus tragedy in Atlanta that took the lives of five members of a college baseball team, as well as the driver and his wife, has shed an unwanted light on the school bus industry. Local news outlets across the country have tied the accident to the safety of school buses. CNN got it right.

“After the bus tragedy in Atlanta last week that left four Bluffton University baseball

players dead, many parents are starting to wonder if the buses they put their children on everyday are really safe,” reported KTEN , an NBC affiliate out of southeastern Oklahoma.

In an article headlined "School Bus Accident Leaves At Least Six People Dead,” eCanadaNow joined the media outlets that are mislabeling the recent accident.

The problem is that the bus involved was a charter coach transporting college students, not a yellow bus, which is subject to specific Federal motor vehicle safety and construction standards.

The error further gained traction in an article on Inside Cable News, a blog site, by a writer known only as “Spud,” who posted an entry titled “CNN to air Documentary on School Bus accident...” Larry E. Bluthardt, the Kansas state director of transportation, was among the first in the school bus industry to catch the mischaracterization. He left a comment to the misguided writer the day after the article was originally posted.

"What ‘school bus' accident????," wrote Bluthardt. "This was a charter bus…not a school bus. It was transporting college students…not school children. Although tragic, we in the school bus industry do not need the coverage. Please get the title right.”

“Spud” evidently received Bluthardt's post as the title was soon changed to read, “CNN to air Documentary on charter bus accident…”

“(The accident) does raise a lot of issues with children,” said Jennifer Dargan, the director of public relations for CNN in Atlanta, stressing that the news network never referred to the bus involved as a school bus.

The network is planning to air a documentary, entitled “CNN: Special Investigations Unit — Fatal Journey,” on March 10 and 11 during the evening. The special report will explore what may have led to the charter bus accident and will investigate whether highway safety is being traded off for more room for the growing number of cars on the road.