Rogers County, OK — January 8, 2025, Isaac Vanover was killed in a bus accident at about 3:45 p.m. on State Highway 28.

Authorities said a car crashed head-on with a school bus near 4230 Road.

Isaac Vanover, 30, died at the scene of the Rogers County crash, according to authorities. He was driving the car involved in the crash.

No one on the bus was injured, authorities said. The bus reportedly was transporting Sequoyah Junior High Students back to Claremore after a basketball game in Adair.

Authorities have not released any more information about the crash.

The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When I hear about a crash involving a school bus and a car, especially one resulting in a fatality, my first thought is how important it is to thoroughly examine every factor that may have contributed to the collision. Crashes like this often lead people to assume the smaller vehicle’s driver was at fault simply because they collided with a much larger, more visible bus. However, that assumption can oversimplify a complex situation.

The first question investigators must ask is what caused the car to collide head-on with the bus. Was the driver distracted, speeding or dealing with a medical emergency? Did something external, like poor visibility, road conditions or another vehicle’s actions, force the car into the oncoming lane? Understanding the driver’s actions and environment is essential to answering the "why" of this crash.

Equally important is examining the bus driver’s actions and the condition of the bus itself. Was the driver traveling at a safe speed and adhering to traffic laws? Were there any mechanical issues, like failing brakes or worn tires, that could have limited the bus driver’s ability to avoid the collision? While the bus’s passengers were fortunate to avoid injury, their safety doesn’t rule out the possibility of contributing factors on the bus’s side.

The location of the crash also raises questions. Rural highways often lack features that can reduce the risk of head-on collisions, such as centerline barriers or clearly marked lanes. Was the road properly maintained, with clear signage and visible lane markings? If not, those deficiencies might have played a role in the collision.

Finally, a thorough investigation should consider whether any systemic factors contributed to the crash. For instance, were local traffic patterns or road conditions known to present dangers that went unaddressed? Did either vehicle’s operator have a history of safety violations that might have been overlooked?

Determining the causes of a collision like this requires gathering and analyzing evidence such as witness statements, cell phone records, vehicle data and road conditions. It’s not enough to rely on initial reports or surface-level observations. Only with a comprehensive investigation can we begin to understand the events that led to this crash and work to prevent similar incidents in the future.

For the family of the car’s driver and the community involved, finding these answers is not just about accountability but also about closure. My hope is that investigators will leave no stone unturned as they piece together what happened on that stretch of highway.