Boothbay Harbor police are still investigating Monday's school bus accident but have determined it to be operator error, according to Boothbay Harbor Police Chief Bob Hasch on Tuesday, Dec. 6.

On Monday, Dec. 5 around 3:30 p.m., a Boothbay Region school bus rolled onto Sherman Field from in front of Boothbay Region High School where it just missed a light pole but managed to destroy a sign and hit a stone memorial before coming to a stop. The bus operator, Lyndon Roberts, had stepped off the bus to close the rear door of the bus. When he did so, the parking brake, which had been set, became disengaged and the bus started rolling. No one was on the bus and no one got hurt in the accident.

"We've looked at a video and with the complex braking system, it appeared that the operator had forgotten that when the rear door is closed after the parking brake has been set, the parking brake doesn't continue to work," said Hasch.

Hasch said school officials have spoken with Roberts and are ensuring that such an accident doesn't happen again.

Hasch also said the incident was a rare mistake in a bus driving career unblemished by accidents. "I've known Lyndon for 30 years. He's very conscientious and cares deeply about this job. I would trust him driving my kids, me or anyone that I know." 

Superintendent of Schools Eileen King said Wednesday that she is waiting to see the police report on the accident and that the bus is at O’Connor Auto Park in Augusta being repaired and its braking system checked.