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Rockland Police Urge Patience as Probe of 12-Year-Old’s Death in School Bus Incident Advances

Prosecutors are weighing charges as investigators review evidence pointing to a missing crossing arm.

Overview

  • Family identified the victim as Brayden Callahan, 12, who was struck after exiting an RSU 13 bus on Nov. 21 in Rockland and later died at Maine Medical Center.
  • Police named 65-year-old Jeffrey Colburn as the driver and placed him on administrative leave while agencies including the Knox County District Attorney’s Office and Maine State Police continue the investigation.
  • A crash report and interior bus video indicate the crossing arm was not deployed, and Colburn told investigators he “simply didn’t see” the child.
  • Authorities performed a sobriety test and collected blood samples, with results pending, and police say they plan to review the full case with the district attorney before any charging decision.
  • RSU 13 canceled classes Monday and Tuesday, offered counseling supports, and plans to resume school Dec. 1 as the community mourns and seeks answers about safety practices and the driver’s history, including a 2015 OUI conviction and recent non-injury crashes.