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WATCH: CMS bus driver caught on camera running red light

By Elsa Gillis
By Elsa Gillis

CHARLOTTE, N.C. — A Charlotte-Mecklenburg School bus was caught on camera cruising through a red stop light Wednesday afternoon.

In the video, other cars stopped while the bus continued past the red light at the intersection of Central Avenue and Sharon Amity Road.

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Officials told Channel 9 there was one student on the bus at the time.

“I was going down Central Avenue away from town, going to make a left turn on Sharon Amity,” the driver who captured the video told Channel 9.

The driver, who spoke to Channel 9 under the condition that his name not be released, said he was on his way home from work when a yellow school bus pulled up near him.

"The school bus, it cuts into the front of the line, the light turns red before it makes it to the stop line and then it goes through and makes a left turn through a solid red,” the driver said.

[ALSO READ: CMS school bus crashes down compared to last year]

His video shows the light change to yellow, then red for about two seconds before the bus even reaches the light to then blow through it.

“I can't believe that he would just blatantly turn left on red, “ the driver said. "(The bus) wasn't caught in the middle of (the light) turning. It was already red before he reached the intersection."

The driver told Channel 9 he sees cars running red lights a lot at the intersection, but it’s extra concerning when children are involved.

CMS officials confirmed the bus came from Oakhurst STEAM Academy.

The district said bus drivers are trained to strictly follow all driving rules and regulations, and safety is always their top priority.

"Oh goodness. Yeah, that bus driver shouldn't be a driver anymore,” a parent told Channel 9. “I would be afraid for my kids to be on that school bus.”

School officials are investigating.

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