Bus Safety: Remembering Cornell Student Rebecca Blanco

In 2018, Cornell alumna Rebecca Blanco was traveling on the “Big Red Bullet Bus” from Cornell University to New York City. The bus crashed off the side of the highway. Rebecca died from multiple traumatic injuries sustained in the crash and was pronounced dead at the scene. She was the only person who died as a result of the crash. Many others were injured and transported to the hospital.

Before the crash, police had received a 911 call reporting that the bus was driving erratically. Troopers were dispatched to investigate, but when they arrived it was too late.

Rebecca received her M.B.A. from Cornell in 2017. She was only 33 at the time of her death. The bus was carrying a dozen former and current Cornell students who were headed to New York City.

Initially, the bus driver told police he fell asleep at the wheel but a blood sample was drawn from the driver and cocaine was found in his system at the time of the crash. He was charged with 33 crimes including homicide by vehicle and driving under the influence. He is serving a 9 year, 9 month prison sentence.

The bus company had not been involved in any crashes in the last two years prior to the crash that were reported to federal regulators. The private bus company was not affiliated with Cornell University. None of Cornell’s buses were involved in the crash.

So, how do you know whether to use a bus service that has no prior record? You really don’t know. Sometimes the bus driver shows signs but that’s not often. When my daughter was in elementary school, I saw a bus parked in front of the school. I heard there was a field trip that day although it was not for my daughter’s class. As I walked toward the school, I heard yelling and many profanities. It was the bus driver. He was yelling loudly in front of parents and children walking to school. He was on the phone in a contentious conversation with someone. He was completely oblivious to anyone around him and the yelling and swearing escalated.

I went to the front desk at school to talk to the assistant to the principal who was in a meeting. I explained the situation to her. She looked annoyed as if she were busy. I think she would have rolled her eyes if there weren’t lots of other parents around. I went outside to my car and waited in my car. Eventually, I saw the principal talking to the bus driver. She must have told the principal. Thankfully because the bus driver was so distracted I couldn’t imagine he was in a position to drive a bus full of young children.

Most bus drivers don’t exhibit behavior that indicates they are not fit to drive the bus. Sadly, the Cornell students and alumni were terrified when the bus driver was driving erratically. But the police could not get to the bus on time. Rebecca “Becca” Blanco was a smart, happy, beautiful girl who lost her life due to the selfishness of a driver who did drugs before driving the bus.