Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Latest local news, weather, high school sports in the Rio Grande Valley

Streets of Speed - HCISD bus driver 'zapped' to face disciplinary action
Posted: 09.27.2011 at 11:00 PM
Ryan Wolf

Ryan Wolf is an anchor and reporter for Action 4 News.

27
Slideshow
Photo:

A mother picking up her child from school, a man helping his mother move, and a bus driver about to start his route all have something in common outside Moises V. Vela Middle School in Harlingen—they get zapped for speeding.
           
The campus is located on South Palm Boulevard.
           
The Valley's own "one tough grandmother" says she's fed up with the road ruckus where she lives.          
          
"That's why I said lets stop... Because I have been trying to call you at the station... To let you know about the speeders," Elvia Howell said.
           
She isn't alone.
           
Adan Gutierrez works right across the street from the school at Park Place Estates RV Resort.
           
"You gotta drive what the speed limit says.... 20 miles per hour," he points out.
           
Many people wonder why drivers ignore the double yellow blinking school zone warning lights posted on both ends of the street.
           
Lawbreakers caught on camera are questioned by the Speedzapper to find out.
           
"I'm supposed to be going 20... Was I going over," asked one parent?
           
She was speeding 30 miles per hour Tuesday afternoon.
           
Manuel Torres was driving 31 miles per hour.
           
"I think I should obey the law," he said.
           
Elvia has been waiting to see results here for a long time.
           
80 years young, she thinks plenty of drivers could learn from her experience.
           
"When I see people walking... I slow down.  When I see somebody working on a ditch or something...

Close to the road... I slow down... And other cars just go around me," she said.
           
Then there's the driver behind the wheel of bus #118 in the HCISD.
           
Don Hilario knows he was busted for Speeding.
           
He even admits he was breaking the speed limit law.
           
Speedzapper: "Do you know how fast you were going?"
           
Bus Driver: "32."
           
Speedzapper: "The zapper says 33... Speed limit's 20."
           
Bus Driver: "Yes sir I know."
           
Turns out the bus driver in question had just arrived to pick up kids at Vela.  There were no signs that he was late.

Speedzapper: "You're a school bus driver... In a district bus... What do you think your boss would say?"
           
Bus Driver: "Probably write me up."
           
He agrees to slow down.
           
Others zapped make a similar promise.
           
"Yea... I'll slow down," Torres says.
           
You know what we say to that!
           
"You've been zapped!"


SCHOOL DISTRICT STATEMENT REGARDING THE BUS DRIVER:

"Student, staff and community safety is our top priority at HCISD. Driving at the posted speed limits creates safer driving conditions. Bringing awareness to this issue, especially in school zones, is most warranted and appreciated. We take these matters very seriously and any time there is unsafe driving reported about one of our bus drivers a review is conducted and appropriate action is taken.  We appreciate Channel 4 and Mr. Wolf in their efforts to create a safer environment for our children and our community."

Dr. Steve Flores
Superintendent of Schools
Harlingen Consolidated Independent School District

Click here to join Ryan Wolf’s Facebook Page 
Popular Stories
Thumbnail
Harlingen man remains missing for more than two weeks
Action 4 News Staff  |  Yesterday at 10:48 AM  |  9 comments
Thumbnail
Tangled web of texts grows, more arrests could come
Marcy Martinez  |  Tuesday, June 18, 2013  |  12 comments
Thumbnail
Autopsy results released on girl run over by her own car
Nadia Galindo  |  Yesterday at 5:47 PM  |  17 comments
Follow Valley Central
Get news and weather notifications on your phone by downloading the iPhone or Android app below
Sign up to get alerts and updates for breaking news, severe weather, and deals:
submit
ADVERTISEMENT
Special Features
Fallen Heroes Page
Action 4 News has created a page to honor all of the Rio Grande Valley's 41 fallen heroes in Iraq and Afghanistan.
Hurricane Page
Action 4 News has placed all our Hurricane Season videos, maps, stories and resources on one page.
Border Bridge Wait Times
Estimated times to cross into the United States from Mexico.
Action 4 Sunrise
Wake up to Action 4 Sunrise Monday through Friday
ADVERTISEMENT