It was a harrowing week for families in Cleveland, Texas, as three separate school bus crashes rattled the Cleveland Independent School District (CISD) between August 11 and August 15, 2025. Two of these incidents unfolded on the frequently traveled FM 1010, with the most serious occurring on Wednesday morning, August 13. In that incident, a bus carrying 58 children to Southside Elementary rolled over, sending shockwaves through the tight-knit community and reigniting a statewide conversation about school bus safety.
According to ABC13, dramatic scenes unfolded as children scrambled for help in the aftermath of the rollover. Eyewitness accounts described a chaotic but, at times, heroic response. One woman told reporters her sister—just a student herself—helped a kindergartener who was left dangling by her seatbelt, guiding the child to safety. Others spoke of a young boy who kicked open the emergency door, with bystanders stepping in to help evacuate the children. Despite the chaos, the quick thinking of students and community members helped prevent more serious injuries.
Wednesday’s crash was not an isolated event. Earlier that week, on Monday morning, another CISD school bus was involved in a crash on the same road, FM 1010. And, as if that wasn’t enough, a third incident occurred later Wednesday morning at the intersection of Church and Watson. In this case, the bus—carrying eight students—made minimal contact with another vehicle and continued its route. The district later clarified that the impact was so slight that neither passengers nor the driver noticed it at the time, but, in accordance with policy, EMS was called, students were assessed at the scene, and parents were notified. Fortunately, no injuries were reported in this third crash.
In a statement released to the press, Cleveland ISD emphasized its commitment to safety protocols: “In accordance with Cleveland ISD policy, any instance in which a school bus makes contact with an object is formally classified as an accident. In such cases, Emergency Medical Services (EMS) and parents or guardians are notified immediately, a police report is filed, and an internal review is initiated.” The district further clarified that all buses involved in the week’s crashes were equipped with seatbelts, a fact confirmed only after repeated inquiries from ABC13.
Despite these reassurances, parents’ frustration and concern have only grown. Many are demanding more information about the causes of these crashes, the training and conduct of the drivers involved, and whether bus routes themselves should be reconsidered. Some parents have even organized to meet with district officials, seeking what they describe as a “civil discussion” about safety measures and accountability in the week following the incidents.
As the Cleveland community grapples with these unsettling events, a new statewide law is reshaping the conversation about school bus safety across Texas. Senate Bill 546, passed by state lawmakers in June 2025, mandates that all school buses be equipped with three-point lap and shoulder seat belts starting with the 2025-2026 school year. This law builds on earlier legislation that only applied to buses manufactured after 2018, extending the requirement to every bus on the road, regardless of age.
The urgency behind this legislation is rooted in tragedy. In March 2024, a deadly rollover crash involving a Hays Consolidated Independent School District (CISD) bus in Bastrop County claimed lives and left a community in mourning. The bus, struck by a cement truck, was carrying 44 children and 11 adults—none of whom were wearing seatbelts at the time. According to the Texas Department of Transportation, nearly 2,500 school bus crashes occurred statewide in the previous school year alone, underscoring the scale of the issue.
For many Texas parents and educators, the new law is a long-overdue step. Desmond Townsend, a parent in Hays CISD, told KVUE, “I think it’s great news. I think it’s a good step forward. I think it should have been mandatory 30 years ago.” Dr. Eric Wright, Superintendent of Hays CISD, echoed this sentiment, noting that the district has been upgrading its fleet since the Bastrop County tragedy. “All of our buses, with the passage of the 2023 bond, and then the 2025 bond, have seat belts,” Wright said. “I’m glad the state stepped up, and I’m glad that our community actually supported our bonds and we’ll be able to do this so all of our kids will at least have the opportunity to wear a seat belt.”
Other Central Texas districts are also making strides. Austin ISD’s Director of Transportation, Kris Hafezizadeh, confirmed, “All our buses are equipped with lap/shoulder belts. We’ve been purchasing buses with this safety feature since 2012.” Round Rock ISD Superintendent Dr. Hafedh Azaiez said the district is working to ensure even its spare buses will soon have seat belts: “We are in the process of adding more, so that way the spare buses, also the ones we get will also have seat belts.”
Not every district is fully equipped yet. Dr. Michael A. Cardona, Superintendent of San Marcos ISD, explained that while elementary buses have seat belts, the district faces challenges in upgrading the rest of its fleet. “It’s expensive. It’s an unfunded mandate. But we do have buses, mostly at the elementary that have seat belts,” Cardona said. He added that the district will consider adding seat belts to other buses as they are replaced over time. The law gives districts a four-year compliance window to meet the new requirements—a timeline that acknowledges both the logistical and financial hurdles involved.
While the Cleveland ISD has confirmed that all buses involved in last week’s crashes had seatbelts, questions remain about usage and enforcement. The March 2024 Hays CISD crash, after all, involved a bus with seatbelts but none of the passengers were wearing them. The new law’s intent is clear: it’s not just about having seatbelts, but about creating a culture where their use is the norm, not the exception.
As investigations continue in Cleveland, parents across Texas are watching closely. The hope is that the combination of new laws, updated equipment, and community vigilance will make the state’s school buses safer for every child who steps aboard. For now, families in Cleveland and beyond are left with a sobering reminder: safety measures matter, but so does accountability—and the conversation is far from over.