The law firm of Steve Smith Trial Lawyers issued a statement Wednesday concerning the Nov. 21 fatal bus incident in Rockland that caused the death of 12-year-old Brayden Callahan.
The law firm was retained as legal counsel in the matter of Shane Callahan & Kelley Morse v. Regional School Unit 13 and Jeffrey Colburn, a case “arising from events that have had a significant impact on a Maine family and the surrounding community.”
The firm said it represents the Callahan family and will provide legal advocacy throughout all phases of the litigation.
“The matter involves serious allegations related to public safety, institutional responsibility, and the protection of children — concerns that affect not just one family, but many Maine families and communities,” the law firm stated.
Steve Smith Trial Lawyers is a Maine-based litigation firm with locations in Augusta and Portland.
“When we send our children to school, families must be able to trust that everyone responsible for their safety — from superintendents and teachers to school bus drivers — is acting with the utmost care and professionalism. When a school system places a child in the care of a driver operating a commercial vehicle weighing thousands of pounds, that responsibility demands careful supervision and strict adherence to safety standards. Based on what we have learned, this tragedy appears to involve multiple points of failure, and we intend to pursue accountability for all those responsible,” the firm said in a written statement.
In its statement, the firm said because the case is pending, the firm will not comment further at this time. Additional information will be available through court proceedings and public filings as appropriate.
There was a second fatal school bus crash in Maine on Tuesday, when a 5-year-old kindergartner was hit and killed in Standish, according to police. The student, identified as Simon Gonzalez, was struck by the school bus during morning pickup around 8 a.m.
The Rockland crash report states that the student was in the marked crosswalk on Nov. 21, and driver, 65-year-old Jeffrey Colburn of Camden, accelerated. The report said it appeared from the onboard bus video that Colburn was leaning far to the right and did not keep his eyes on the road. Colburn told police he did not see Callahan. The video also showed the front crossing arm was no longer deployed.
Colburn is no longer employed by the district. The law enforcement investigation continues into the death.
This story appears through a media partnership with Midcoast Villager.