Dec 5, 2013 1 min read

Charges against a Charleroi Area school bus driver accused of failing to stop a railroad crossing have been dropped.

Mark J. Gazi, a former California University of Pennsylvania police officer, was cited for careless driving and failure to stop at a railroad crossing after he drove over the rails shortly before 8:30 a.m. Oct. 15 at Locust and Railroad streets. The bus Gazi, 57, of Roscoe, was driving was struck by the crossing gate.

Charleroi Area Superintendent Brad Ferko said none of the 18 students on board were injured, and that the bus sustained a dent in the rear roof area. Ferko said Gazi immediately informed the district of the incident and continued his route. The district conducted and internal investigation. Ferko did not return calls for comment.

District Judge Larry Hopkins said the charges were dropped Wednesday for techincal reasons.

“(Gazi’s) attorney, Dennis Paluso, raised a citation issue,” Hopkins said. “There was no narrative on the citations, and when you cite someone, you must include a narrative of what happened on the citation. (Paluso) made a motion to dismiss and I granted it.”

Paluso did not return calls for comment.