Parent shares how she addressed daughter’s school bus stop safety concerns, in light of 9-year-old killed in crash

Amber Hunt-White has a daughter who is a student at Palm Springs Unified School District. Her daughter takes the school bus near Dillon Road and Bennett Road near Desert Hot Springs. Hunt reached out to News Channel 3 after she read what happened to the 9-year-old girl who was killed after being hit by a car at her bus stop, which is just a few streets over from where Hunt lives.

"This is such a big deal and it can be prevented easily," said Hunt.

Hunt was concerned about the bus picking up her daughter on the opposite side of the road from where she lived. She said crossing Dillon Road is dangerous and wanted to avoid it.

"Honestly, [my daughter] said, 'Mom, that could have been me, you know, crossing the street here,'" said Hunt.

In September 2021, Hunt said she reached out to PSUSD about the issue. She said someone within the district had told her she either had to cross the road or take her daughter a few streets down to get picked up on the same side. Hunt said the alternate bus stop was too far for her to walk to. 

"I said, well, I just want you to be aware like you're telling me to be on that side of the highway, but that means I have to walk across," said Hunt.

Hunt said she was upset with what the district said and then reached out to Desert Hot Springs City Hall. From there, she was referred to California Highway Patrol. After reaching out to CHP, a change was made to the bus stop.

Now, Hunt's daughter gets picked up on the same side of the road she lives on, only she has to be at the bus stop earlier.

"It's frustrating, you know, being a parent and especially being told down, you know, through so many people basically just cross the highway or, you know, it's so dangerous," said Hunt.

She suggests more sidewalks, curbs, crosswalks, and signage where school bus stops are. 

"I don't see how many more times and things, unfortunately, we have to go through for anybody to really step up and do anything," said Hunt.

News Channel 3 reached out to PSUSD and got this statement:

"If a parent or guardian is concerned about the safety of the bus stop, they should contact our new coordinator of transportation services, Abdelhak Bouzroud, after he begins his new post on Jan. 3. Schools are closed beginning today through Jan. 7 for winter break."

You can contact Bouzroud at abouzroud@psusd.us or reach PSUSD at info@psusd.us.

News Channel 3 also reached out to Riverside County about bus safety concerns in unincorporated areas. This statement was sent in response:

"School bus stop locations are determined by individual school districts. These locations are not approved by the county, however, the Transportation Department is available to consult with school districts upon request in the selection of school bus stops in unincorporated areas.

The Transportation Department actively works to install sidewalks through various means by pursuing grant opportunities, including sidewalks when feasible in roadway projects and requiring sidewalks to be installed during new development projects. 

If community members are concerned about their school bus stop, they should first contact the school district which determines the location for the bus stop. If residents have a concern about sidewalks or traffic lights in unincorporated areas, they can contact the Riverside County Transportation Department."

Here is the contact information for other valley schools districts regarding their transportation department:

• Coachella Valley Unified School District:
  • Director of Transportation: Apolonio Del Toro
  • (760) 848-1854
  • apolonio.deltoro@cvusd.us
• Desert Sand Unified School District:
  • Director Maintenance, Operations, Transportation: Gabriel DeLaO
  • (760) 771-8553