# 2017 BLUE BIRD CONVENTIONAL — VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
> **FATAL** · NHTSA complaint `1444915` · 2018-02-02 · Blue Bird Body Company
## Severity
- **Deaths:** 1
- **Injured:** 1
- **Fire:** No
- **Crash:** Yes
- **Police report:** Yes
- **Medical attention:** Yes
- **Vehicle towed:** Yes
## Vehicle
- **Make:** BLUE BIRD
- **Model:** CONVENTIONAL
- **Year:** 2017
- **Manufacturer:** Blue Bird Body Company
- **Component:** VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
- **Miles at failure:** 23,307
- **Speed:** 41 mph
## Narrative
ON 12.05.17 THE INVOLVED BLUE BIRD SCHOOL BUS EXPERIENCED A SUDDEN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION EVENT AND DESPITE DRIVER ATTEMPTS TO SLOW THE BUS BY SHIFTING TO NEUTRAL, GEAR 1 THEN GEAR 2 AND POSSIBLY OTHER EFFORTS (WE HAVE VIDEO DEMONSTRATING THIS), THE BUS CONTINUED TO ACCELERATE UNTIL COMING TO REST FOLLOWING IMPACT WITH A DITCH AND TREE RESULTING IN THE DEATH OF A 5 YEAR OLD PASSENGER.  THE VEHICLE WAS BEING OPERATED ON A COUNTY DIRT ROAD.  *TR  *BF  *TR
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*Source: [NHTSA ODI](https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/downloads/) · AI Analytics · CC0 1.0*