Multiple Arizona school districts reroute buses in wake of freeway shootings
Sep 11, 2015, 4:47 PM | Updated: 5:34 pm
An Arizona Department of Transportation sign gives a hotline number for information on the recent freeway shootings as motorists pass under at the 202/I-10 intersection, Wednesday, Sept. 9, 2015 in Chandler, Ariz. Authorities are investigating nine shootings of vehicles over the past two weeks along I-10 in Phoenix. A truck's passenger window shattered on a Phoenix freeway Wednesday as Arizona authorities investigated a string of highway shootings that have rattled nerves and heightened fears of a possible serial shooter.(AP Photo/Matt York)
(AP Photo/Matt York)
PHOENIX — Six school districts in Arizona have officially changed their bus routes to avoid Phoenix freeways after 11 shootings have been confirmed over nearly two weeks.
Phoenix Elementary, Paradise Valley, Tolleson Elementary, Tucson Unified and Kyrene have recently joined Fowler Elementary in banning their buses from Phoenix freeways.
Kyrene School District Superintendent David Schauer sent out a letter to students’ families, citing the safety of the children as their main concern.
“The Kyrene Transportation Department made adjustments to those bus routes that would normally take a freeway,” he said in the letter. “We will continue this practice based on a daily evaluation of the precautions and in collaboration with law enforcement agencies.”
Tucson Unified School District decided to remove their buses from Phoenix freeways, ordering those heading to the city for events to stay off the Interstate 10.
Fowler Elementary School District, which officially changed its routes Wednesday, will refrain from using the I-10, I-17, Loop 101, 202, 303 or the SR 51, Superintendent Marvene Lobato wrote in a release.
“We will continue this practice until either the situation gets better and I feel comfortable with the reports that are coming out and/or that the alleged person — whoever this person or persons are — are apprehended,” she said.
The shootings have terrorized the Valley since late August, resulting in one minor injury of a child.
Arizona Department of Public Safety officials have detained two people and questioned one in relation to the shootings.
According to DPS, seven cars have been hit by bullets and four have been hit by projectiles.
A $20,000 reward has been posted for information leading to the arrest of the suspected serial shooter.
DPS is encouraging anyone with information to contact them at 602-644-5805.
