Education Department Scrambles to Fix Communication Failures After St. Croix Bus Crash

In a candid video briefing Thursday, Education Commissioner Dionne Wells-Hedrington addressed growing concerns over a school bus crash on St. Croix that left parents and the public questioning the department’s communication protocols.

The incident occurred at 7:02 a.m. on Wednesday, when Bus 11, packed with 40 students from Central High School, Educational Complex, and John H. Woodson Junior High School, was struck by another vehicle. The collision happened at the intersection of Route 66, where the car made an illegal turn onto the highway, colliding with the front side of the school bus, officials said. The impact caused significant damage to the car, along with the bus’s back tire and parts of its body.

Wells-Hedrington outlined the sequence of events, revealing gaps in how the situation was handled. The bus driver immediately contacted the Abramson Bus Company office, which then reported the accident to 911 and the Virgin Islands Police Department. A representative from the bus company remained on-site until all students were safely picked up. However, it wasn’t until 9 a.m. — nearly two hours after the crash — that VIDE was officially notified, she said.