The Montgomery County Department of Police Collision Reconstruction Unit has completed its investigation into the fatal collision involving a Montgomery County Public Schools bus and an 11-year-old girl.
Police said the crash occurred on Thursday, October 9, 2025, around 3:13pm at the intersection of Bauer Drive and Russett Road. Fourth District officers and Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service personnel responded after receiving multiple 911 calls reporting a bicyclist had been struck by a school bus.
Investigators determined that a 2019 Thomas school bus was traveling eastbound on Bauer Drive and turning right onto southbound Russett Road when the collision occurred. The victim, Summer Lim, a student at Earle B. Wood Middle School, was riding her bicycle eastbound on the sidewalk along Bauer Drive and attempted to cross Russett Road while the school bus was already occupying the intersection and making its turn.
The bus driver, identified as 55-year-old Ivan Rivas, has been employed by Montgomery County Public Schools since 2001 and had driven the same route for more than 15 years. Police said that after the initial impact, Rivas stopped the bus but then moved forward approximately 27 feet before coming to a complete stop.
At the conclusion of the investigation, detectives determined that Lim was at fault for entering the crosswalk while the bus was already in the intersection. Detectives also concluded that Rivas was negligent for moving the bus forward after initially stopping.
The case was presented to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office. Rivas has been cited with one count of negligent driving contributing to a fatal accident.
