The Montgomery County Public Schools bus driver cited in connection with the 2025 crash that killed an 11-year-old girl has resolved the case by paying a fine rather than going to trial, according to WUSA9.
Ivan Rivas, 55, accepted a negligent driving citation Thursday and paid a $390 fine instead of contesting the charge in a non-jury trial, WUSA9 reported. The citation also carries three points on his driver’s license.
The charge stemmed from the death of Summer Lim, an 11-year-old Earle B. Wood Middle School student, who was struck by a school bus on Oct. 9, 2025, at the intersection of Bauer Drive and Russett Road in Aspen Hill. According to the Montgomery County Department of Police’s Collision Reconstruction Unit, Summer was riding her bicycle eastbound on the sidewalk along Bauer Drive and attempted to cross Russett Road while the school bus was already turning right onto southbound Russett Road. Investigators concluded that Summer entered the crosswalk after the bus had already occupied the intersection.
Police also determined that Rivas, who had driven the same MCPS bus route for more than 15 years, was negligent because after the initial collision he stopped the bus but then moved it forward approximately 27 feet before coming to a complete stop. Summer was found near the rear of the bus.
At the conclusion of the investigation, detectives determined that Summer was at fault for entering the crosswalk while the bus was already in the intersection, while Rivas was found negligent for moving the bus after initially stopping. The case was presented to the Montgomery County State’s Attorney’s Office, which charged Rivas with negligent driving contributing to a fatal crash.
Following the crash, Montgomery County installed additional traffic signs in the area in an effort to improve safety at the intersection. WUSA9 reported that Rivas chose to pay the fine rather than proceed with a trial.
