Lee County to release new videos of drivers passing stopped school buses

FORT MYERS, Fla. (WINK) — Lee County school officials will release never-before-seen footage of drivers allegedly illegally passing stopped school buses, including several close calls that endangered children.

• RELATED: School bus cameras catch 25,454 cars in 5 months in Lee County

The School District of Lee County Superintendent Dr. Denise Carlin and Sheriff Carmine Marceno will share videos during a press conference at 9:30 a.m. at the school district headquarters at the corner of Colonial Boulevard and Metro Parkway.

Officials will be joined by Brian and Lori Masters, the grandparents of a student struck by a driver who is being accused of illegally passing on the right side of a school bus. The family will share their experience and encourage parents to support stronger school bus safety efforts.

The girl was hit by a car last month while waiting at her bus stop before school. The bus stopped in front of her, and a driver drove around the bus and crashed into her.

She was back in school the next day. At the time, the girl had soft tissue damage in her back and a scraped chin.

"Her backpack saved her," the Masters said.

The driver's car left tire marks in the road and grass, even removing parts of a nearby tree. The girl's backpack also left dents in the driver's car from the impact.

"I didn't get time to talk to her 'cause my granddaughter was in the ambulance," Brian Masters said. "She said to me when I walked by, she goes, 'I'm praying for her. I'm praying for her.' I said, 'Why are you driving so fast?' She goes, 'Yes, I'm driving too fast.'"

"This could have been the biggest tragedy ever in our family and you've gotta slow down," Lori Masters said. "We had a miracle. We are so thankful, but people have got to slow down."

The announcement comes toward the end of the school year, marking the first year of the Lee County school bus camera safety program. The initiative aims to encourage responsible driving and protect students entering and exiting school buses by using automated enforcement cameras on school buses.

WINK News will provide updates from the press conference both on air and online.

Check back in later to watch the entire news conference live.

Note: News conferences do not always begin at the exact time slated.