Myrtle Beach News: SC Student Fell Out of School Bus; Family Settles Lawsuit

Conway, Myrtle Beach

The family of a Carolina Forest Elementary School student who fell out of a moving bus in 2022 recently settled a lawsuit with Horry County Schools for $40,000, according to court records.

Jamie Sharpe, the child’s mother, sued the school district and the S.C. Board of Education after her daughter tumbled out of the bus when the emergency door opened on Feb. 15, 2022. The bus was traveling over 20 miles per hour at the time.

As part of the settlement, the school district and the state, which owns the buses, did not admit liability. They agreed to pay the sum “to purchase peace and avoid litigation,” according to the order approving the settlement. The complaint was formally dismissed Feb. 28.

Horry County Schools spokeswoman Lisa Bourcier declined to comment on the settlement.

Lawsuit Allegations

The lawsuit accused the school district of not sufficiently inspecting the bus before the 2022 trip and not properly supervising the students on board. The students were engaged in raucous behavior, horseplaying, and hitting other students throughout the bus, including in the emergency exit row and surrounding seats.

Sharpe’s daughter was sitting by the emergency exit because another student was in her assigned seat, according to the lawsuit. When the door opened and the child fell out, her head hit the ground, resulting in road rash on her hands and body.

The bus driver, who wasn’t identified in court records, did not stop driving for 30 seconds and only did so because another student told him a girl had fallen out, according to the lawsuit. The lawsuit blamed the school district for not having adequate rules and procedures to prevent students from being injured.

School District Response

In its response, the school district argued that the bus driver had checked the emergency door as part of his morning routine and it appeared to be working at that time. The school district insisted it was not responsible for the child’s injuries.

The girl received medical treatment but is expected to make a full recovery, according to court records.

Alonzo Holloway, the family’s attorney, could not be reached for comment.