I am the parent of one of the students injured in a serious school bus accident involving Joshua A. Smith Sr. My child was simply riding the bus to school when she became one of several children affected by a completely preventable crash. According to reports, Mr. Smith was driving while distracted by his cell phone and traveling at a high rate of speed (60mph in a 40mph zone) when he struck a stopped school bus carrying children. Two minors in his own vehicle were reportedly unrestrained, and debris from the collision nearly struck another child boarding the bus.

As a parent, it is difficult to describe the fear and emotional impact this accident has had on our family and the many others involved. Children who should have felt safe on their way to school instead experienced physical injuries, emotional trauma, and lasting fear because of one person’s careless decisions behind the wheel.

Distracted driving continues to be one of the leading causes of preventable accidents across the country. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), taking your eyes off the road for even a few seconds can have devastating consequences. Incidents involving school buses and children should be treated with the highest level of seriousness because the risks are so significant.

This petition is not only about one accident — it is about advocating for stronger accountability and stricter consequences for distracted driving, especially when it involves school buses or children. Current penalties often do not reflect the potentially life-altering harm these choices can cause.

I am urging local leaders and lawmakers to consider stronger penalties for distracted driving offenses, including meaningful license suspensions and harsher consequences when negligent driving results in injuries involving school buses or minors. In severe cases involving reckless or distracted driving around school transportation, revocation of driving privileges should be considered to help prevent future tragedies and better protect our communities.

I also believe Joshua A. Smith Sr. should be charged to the fullest extent permitted by law for the harm caused by his actions. Accountability matters, not only for justice for the victims and families affected, but also to help prevent this type of dangerous behavior from happening again in the future.

Our children deserve to travel to and from school safely. By signing and sharing this petition, you are supporting stronger protections for students, greater accountability for dangerous driving behavior, and efforts to prevent other families from experiencing similar trauma in the future.

Please stand with us in advocating for safer roads, stronger distracted driving laws, and justice for the children and families affected by this accident.