Son questions why parking lot lights were off when father was killed in Pompano Beach bus crash

POMPANO BEACH, Fla. — The son of a 69-year-old Broward County school bus driver who died after being struck by another bus at a Pompano Beach lot told Local 10 News on Friday that his father’s death has left his family frustrated and searching for answers.

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Kendrick Desmandes said he believes the crash was preventable and questioned why the parking lot’s lights were not illuminated when his father, Alfred Desmandes, was struck early Wednesday morning.

According to the Broward Sheriff’s Office, the bus driver who struck Desmandes told investigators he did not see him because the parking lot lights were not on.

Kendrick Desmandes said the circumstances have made it difficult for his family to accept his father’s death, particularly because investigators have said neither excessive speed nor impairment appeared to be factors.

He said he is frustrated by what he sees as a lack of accountability.

Alfred Desmandes had worked as a bus driver for more than 30 years.

Kendrick Desmandes told Local 10 that he said goodbye to his father at the hospital Friday, describing the moment as one of the hardest experiences of his life.

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“I told him that I’m sorry and that I didn’t get to succeed before your passing,” he said. “So, in a sense, I kind of feel like I failed him.”

He said he knows his father would want him to keep moving forward.

“I know he’s going to look over me because he’s just that type of person,” he added.

Before leaving, Kendrick Desmandes said he kissed his father goodbye and had to let him go.

“There’s nothing else I could have done,” he said.

BSO officials the investigation into the crash remains ongoing and no charges have been filed at this time.

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