A terrifying close call in Kanawha County, West Virginia, is sparking outrage and renewed calls for tougher school bus safety enforcement.
On March 14, a middle school girl narrowly escaped being struck by a speeding car that illegally passed her stopped school bus—a moment captured in a now-viral video that has left viewers stunned.
The girl had just stepped off her bus after school when a battered Lincoln sedan raced up behind the vehicle, ignoring its extended stop sign and flashing lights. The video, released by the Kanawha County Sheriff’s Office, shows her starting to cross the street in front of the bus, momentarily glancing down at her phone—then suddenly jolting back as the car tears past within inches of her.
“You can see the dust blow her hair back,” said Sheriff Mike Rutherford. “She was one second away from being killed.”
The car swerved onto the shoulder at the last moment, avoiding a direct hit. The girl’s quick reflexes saved her life.
Girl defies death as impatient driver comes within inches of running her over in heartstopping video https://t.co/Pg8exwNETw pic.twitter.com/XS2WCTSr56
— New York Post (@nypost) March 23, 2025
Driver Fled the Scene
The driver didn’t slow down. In the video, the child is seen frozen in disbelief as the car disappears down the road.
Within 30 minutes of posting the clip on social media, investigators identified the suspect: 43-year-old Kevin Webster of Saint Albans. Police noted the vehicle in question had clear signs of previous damage—its front bumper barely hanging on, the hood askew, and a long dent trailing down the side.
Webster was arrested days later and now faces a long list of charges, including:
- Driving under the influence
- Passing a stopped school bus
- Reckless driving
- Driving on a revoked license for a prior DUI
- Driving with a suspended license
Local parents are outraged, and many are calling for stiffer penalties for drivers who endanger children at bus stops.
“We tell our kids to look both ways. But how do you prepare them for someone like that?” said Emily Hart, a mother of two elementary school students who live in the area. “This was almost a funeral instead of a warning.”
A Broader Problem
The near-tragedy underscores a growing national concern: drivers illegally passing school buses. According to the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, over 95,000 illegal school bus passings occur each day in the U.S.
Sen. Joe Manchin (D-WV) issued a statement calling for “immediate federal attention” and urging Congress to consider funding for improved bus camera systems and higher fines for violators.
“No family should have to live in fear that their child won’t make it home safely because of someone’s recklessness,” Manchin said. “This incident should be a wake-up call.”
The young girl, whose name has not been released for privacy, was not physically harmed—but the psychological impact is unknown.
“She’s lucky to be alive,” Sheriff Rutherford said. “This could have been so much worse. It should never have happened at all.”
Kevin Webster remains in custody as the investigation continues. Authorities say more charges could be filed pending toxicology results.
The sheriff’s office encourages anyone who witnesses a school bus violation to report it immediately.
“That video is hard to watch,” Rutherford added. “But it could save lives.”
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A million people daily narrowly missed by vehicles… keep your eyes open…
There is no excuse to put a child or anyone’s life at risk. The safety laws are in.place because of unnecessary deaths and injuries that have happened in the past!! The person, vehicle that just did this — needs to be dealt with legally, with a punishment in mind, not to be a mere slap on the wrist!! I used to walk 2 miles to elementary school, 5 miles to Jr High, High School was private school miles away, but school bus stop was more than 2 miles from home!! Many near miss incidents with vehicles, attempted abductions, etc!! I lived in Detroit, Mich., so not a joke at all!!! I had a neglectful Mom that really, truly didn’t care, even if a neighbor verified that they saw someone try to abduct me 2 blocks from home!!! Children are precious gifts from God, they need to be protected, treasured! They are our future, our hope, the reason we exist, or they should be. I was overprotective of my 4, in many ways, I never regret it! Our children are not just our future, but the future of our country, without them, and their bright lights and futures, we have no future!!!