Laura Wright 
One of the most popular legends to come out of San Antonio is the story of the benevolent ghost children and the bus tragedy that killed them.
Here is one version of the popular Texas tale:
Collected from the Internet:
In the 1940s, a school bus filled with children stalled on a railroad crossing. This was long before any barriers or flashing lights were used to foretell a train’s approach. The bus went so far as to get its front tires across the tracks, but it stalled. The back wheels seemed to settle between the tracks in a way that made escape even more difficult.
A train was soon in sight. A few kids were able to wiggle out of windows, but most were stuck. The train hit and tens of kids, as well as the driver, were killed. Legend says the kids now protect the living from suffering a fate such as theirs’.
The names of the roads near the tracks are the names of the crash victims: Nancy Cole, Richey Otis, Cindy Sue, Laura Lee, and others.
Today, people park their car in neutral on the side of the tracks. They sprinkle their bumper with baby powder. After a few moments, the car moves by itself to the other side of the tracks. When you get out to check your bumper, you’ll see small handprints in the powder. The children’s spirits have helped you to safety.
This wonderful story brings blessings out of a terrible atrocity, but it’s just that. The roads had their names long before the “accident” occurred. San Antonio has never had such an accident. Actually, the entire state of Texas has never encountered this kind of accident.
The origins are believed to stem from a several states away. In 1938, 26 children died in this kind of crash in Salt Lake City, Utah. A bus filled with kids became stuck while crossing train tracks and a train came through.
The lore is believed to have been around as early as the 1970s, although the dates given for the bus crash do vary. Some stories place the crash in the 1950s or 1960s.
A 2006 movie titled Fingerprints utilizes this legend as one of the primary focal points. The film concentrates on a girl named Melanie who has just came out of a rehab hospital for substance abuse. It’s a fairly well made movie for anyone interested in seeing a modern adaptation of the lore.
One of the most beneficial changes to come after the tragedy was the national attention devoted to bus and train track safety. Before the accident, buses were utilitarian and crude. Windows may or may not open. There was no heating or cooling. There was no such thing as emergency exits or emergency escapes.
There was a nationwide outcry for the inattention to simple precautions and buses became safer to ride in after the tragedy.
