Judson Middle School Closure: How Transportation Challenges Put Live Oak Students at Risk

When a School Closes, the Road Doesn’t Always Get Safer

The Judson Independent School District board made a painful but necessary decision: close Judson Middle School to address a $37 million deficit. For families like Aviana Robinson’s—whose seventh-grade son walks to school through the neighborhood—the closure isn’t just about changing classrooms. It’s about changing how they get there.

And that change could be dangerous.

When schools close, transportation risks don’t disappear—they multiply. Students who once walked safely through familiar neighborhoods now face longer commutes, busier roads, and, in many cases, the very real threat of sharing the road with 80,000-pound commercial trucks. In Live Oak and across Bexar County, those risks are already a daily reality.

At Attorney911, we’ve seen what happens when transportation systems fail our children. We’ve represented families devastated by trucking accidents on I-35, I-10, and the congested corridors that connect Live Oak to San Antonio. We know the patterns: when school boundaries shift, traffic patterns shift with them. And when those shifts intersect with the trucking industry’s relentless pressure to move freight faster, the results can be catastrophic.

This isn’t just about one school closure. It’s about what happens when an entire community’s transportation safety net is pulled out from under them—and who’s responsible when that system fails.

The Transportation Crisis: 480 Students Who Walked—Now What?

The district’s own data reveals the scale of the problem:

• 480 students at Judson Middle School walked to school—nearly half the student body.
• 500 students at Kitty Hawk Middle School walked, showing this isn’t an isolated issue.

For these families, walking was more than a convenience—it was a safety net. Neighborhood routes kept students off major roads and away from the truck traffic that plagues Live Oak’s busier corridors.

Now, those students face a new reality:

• Longer walks through unfamiliar neighborhoods
• Bus routes that may not align with their new school’s location
• Increased exposure to truck traffic on roads like Loop 1604, I-35, and the industrial arteries that feed San Antonio’s logistics hubs

Lindy Dimaio, a Live Oak resident, captured the community’s frustration: “It is sad. I know I’m really disappointed for the kids because I know there’s a lot of kids that really enjoy going to that school. It’s unfortunate that the district’s not able to afford it and they have to make these cuts.”

But the cuts don’t just affect the kids who loved their school. They affect the kids who relied on its location for safety. And when that safety net disappears, the risks don’t just transfer—they multiply.

The Hidden Danger: When School Routes Intersect with Trucking Corridors

Live Oak’s Trucking Problem: A Community at the Crossroads

Live Oak sits at the intersection of some of Texas’s busiest trucking corridors:

• I-35: The NAFTA superhighway, carrying freight from Mexico to Canada. It’s one of the most dangerous trucking routes in America, with fatal crashes involving commercial vehicles occurring at nearly twice the national average.
• Loop 1604: A critical ring road connecting San Antonio’s industrial and residential zones. It’s a high-speed, high-volume route where trucks mix with commuter traffic, school buses, and pedestrians.
• FM 78 and FM 1518: Major freight routes serving distribution centers, warehouses, and the Port of San Antonio. These roads see heavy truck traffic during peak hours—exactly when students are walking to and from school.

These aren’t just roads. They’re danger zones. And when school boundaries shift, students who once walked safely through neighborhoods may now find themselves sharing sidewalks—or worse, crossing lanes—with 18-wheelers.

Why School Transportation and Trucking Are a Deadly Mix

When schools close and boundaries shift, three dangerous patterns emerge:

1. Longer Walks = More Exposure to Truck Traffic

Students who once walked 10 minutes through quiet neighborhoods may now face 30-minute walks along busy roads. Every extra minute on the sidewalk increases their exposure to distracted drivers, fatigued truckers, and poorly maintained commercial vehicles.

2. Bus Stops Move to High-Risk Zones

New school boundaries often mean new bus stops—many of which end up on high-speed roads with limited pedestrian infrastructure. In Live Oak, that could mean stops near:
– Trucking terminals where drivers are rushing to meet delivery deadlines
– Industrial zones with limited sidewalks and poor lighting
– Highway on-ramps where trucks accelerate to merge

3. Parents Drive More = More Traffic, More Risk

When walking or busing becomes impractical, parents take to the roads. More cars on the road mean more congestion, more frustration, and more opportunities for collisions—especially when those cars share the road with trucks.

The Human Cost: What Happens When the System Fails

The Robinson Family: A Case Study in Transportation Risk

Aviana Robinson’s story is a microcosm of the larger crisis. Her son walked to Judson Middle School—a safe, familiar route through the neighborhood. Now, with the school closing, she’s left with questions:

• Where will he go to school?
• How will he get there?
• Will he be safe?

These aren’t just logistical questions. They’re life-and-death questions. And for families across Live Oak, they’re questions without clear answers.

The Legal Doctrine: Why These Cases Are Actionable

These aren’t just accidents—they’re preventable failures. And under Texas law, multiple parties can be held liable:

1. Negligence Per Se: When Violations Equal Liability

When a trucking company violates federal regulations—like hours-of-service limits (49 CFR § 395) or cargo securement rules (49 CFR § 393)—those violations can be used as automatic proof of negligence in court.

Example: If a truck driver causes a crash after driving 12 hours without a break, the violation of 49 CFR § 395.3 (the 11-hour driving limit) can be used to establish negligence without further proof.

2. Respondeat Superior: Holding Employers Accountable

Under the legal doctrine of respondeat superior, employers are liable for their employees’ negligent actions if those actions occur within the scope of employment.

Example: If a truck driver causes a crash while making a delivery for Werner Enterprises, Werner can be held liable for the driver’s negligence—even if the company didn’t directly cause the crash.

3. Negligent Hiring, Training, and Supervision

Trucking companies have a duty to:
– Hire qualified drivers (49 CFR § 391)
– Train them properly on safety protocols
– Supervise their performance to ensure compliance

If a company cuts corners—hiring drivers with poor safety records, failing to train them on hours-of-service rules, or ignoring violations—it can be held liable for negligent hiring, training, or supervision.

Example: In a 2022 Texas case, a trucking company was hit with a $23 million verdict after it hired a driver with multiple prior DUI convictions. The driver caused a fatal crash while under the influence.

4. Premises Liability: When Roads Aren’t Safe

Government entities have a duty to maintain safe roads. If a road lacks proper pedestrian infrastructure—sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting, or signage—they can be held liable for creating a dangerous condition.

Example: In 2021, a Texas jury awarded $8.2 million to the family of a child killed while walking to school on a road with no sidewalks. The verdict found the county negligent for failing to address known safety hazards.

Long-Term Solutions: What Live Oak Needs to Do

The Judson Middle School closure is a wake-up call—not just for the district, but for the entire Live Oak community. Here’s what needs to happen to prevent future tragedies:

1. Pedestrian Infrastructure Upgrades

Live Oak’s roads weren’t designed with pedestrians in mind. Key upgrades should include:
– Sidewalks on all major roads near schools and bus stops
– Pedestrian islands at busy intersections
– Flashing crosswalk signals near schools
– Traffic calming measures (speed bumps, reduced speed limits) in residential areas

2. Truck Route Restrictions Near Schools

Trucking companies should be prohibited from using residential streets during school commute hours. Key measures:
– Designated truck routes that bypass school zones
– Time-of-day restrictions on truck traffic near schools
– Enhanced enforcement of existing trucking regulations

3. School Zone Safety Audits

Every school in Live Oak should undergo a safety audit to identify high-risk areas. The audit should assess:
– Pedestrian infrastructure (sidewalks, crosswalks, lighting)
– Traffic patterns (volume, speed, truck presence)
– Crash history (prior accidents involving pedestrians or vehicles)
– Emergency response times

4. Community Advocacy

Parents, teachers, and community members should demand accountability from:
– Judson ISD: Ensure transportation safety is a priority in boundary decisions
– City of Live Oak: Invest in pedestrian infrastructure and truck route restrictions
– Texas Department of Transportation (TxDOT): Prioritize safety upgrades on high-risk corridors like Loop 1604 and I-35

Potential Legal Claims

If your child is injured due to unsafe transportation conditions, you may have multiple legal claims:

1. Against the School District

• Negligence: Failing to provide safe transportation options
• Failure to Warn: Not informing families about increased risks
• Premises Liability: If the accident occurred on district property (e.g., a poorly maintained bus stop)

2. Against Trucking Companies

• Negligent Operation: Speeding, distracted driving, fatigued driving
• Negligent Hiring/Training/Supervision: Hiring unqualified drivers or failing to enforce safety policies
• Vehicle Maintenance Failures: Brake failures, tire blowouts, cargo securement violations
• Hours-of-Service Violations: Falsifying logbooks to hide fatigued driving

3. Against Government Entities

• Dangerous Road Design: Missing sidewalks, poor signage, lack of crosswalks
• Failure to Maintain: Potholes, debris, or other hazards that contributed to the accident

4. Against Other Drivers

• Negligent Driving: If another motorist contributed to the accident

Why Choose Attorney911 for Your Case?

25+ Years of Fighting for Texas Families

Ralph Manginello has been fighting for injury victims since 1998. With 25+ years of experience, he’s seen how systems fail families—and how to hold the powerful accountable.

Our firm has:
– Recovered $50+ million for Texas families
– Taken on Fortune 500 trucking companies like Walmart, Amazon, and Werner Enterprises
– Secured multi-million dollar verdicts in catastrophic injury cases
– Federal court admission to handle complex trucking litigation

The Insurance Defense Advantage

Our team includes Lupe Peña, a former insurance defense attorney who spent years working for the very companies that now try to minimize your claim. He knows their tactics, their strategies, and how to beat them at their own game.

When you call Attorney911, you’re not just getting a lawyer—you’re getting a team that knows how the other side thinks.

We Treat You Like Family

We understand what you’re going through. When Aviana Robinson says, “He’s going to be devastated,” we hear the fear in her voice. We’ve represented parents just like her—parents who trusted the system to keep their children safe, only to see it fail.

That’s why we treat every client like family. We answer your calls. We explain the process. We fight for every dollar you deserve.

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Learn More About Your Rights

📺 The Victim’s Guide to 18-Wheeler Accident Injuries – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wxEHIxZTbK8
📺 Can I Sue for Being Hit by a Semi Truck? – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=J0MT3CKbUb4
📺 The Definitive Guide To Commercial Truck Accidents – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iEEeZf-k8Ao
📺 What Should You Not Say to an Insurance Adjuster? – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9UKRbFprB0E

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