A New York school bus driver is being praised as a hero after saving a young girl’s life when a driver sped past the bus’s stop sign while students were exiting at a stop. The incident was captured on a doorbell video by the Manlius Police Department, showing the driver stopping to drop off the student before a “gold/tan” Toyota Camry sped past the bus.
As other cars stopped to allow the students to exit, the Camry dangerously sped around the school bus’s right side directly in the path of the students. The bus driver, referred to as “Ms. Debbie” in comments, quickly grabbed the girl by her backpack and pulled her back inside the bus as the Camry clipped the side of a mailbox while passing in front of the bus doors.
A woman waiting to pick up students froze in fear as the driver sped by, nearly causing a potentially fatal incident. No injuries were reported as the driver fled the scene, but police are currently reviewing video footage to identify and locate the driver. Fayetteville is located about 10 miles outside downtown Syracuse.
Many are outraged by the incident, but others praise the bus driver for her quick thinking and dedication to the safety of the children on the bus. Parents of children on the bus expressed their gratitude for Miss Debbie, emphasizing her cautious nature and the priority she places on the children’s safety while on her bus. Illegal passing of school buses is a prevalent issue in New York, with around 50,000 motor vehicles illegally passing school buses every day, according to state-provided statistics.
If found illegally passing a school bus in New York, drivers can face fines ranging from $250 to $1000 and potential jail time, along with points added to their license. A second conviction within three years can result in a fine of $600 to $750 and up to 180 days in jail, while a third conviction or more within three years can lead to a $750 to $1000 fine and 180 days in prison. Drivers may also face vehicular manslaughter charges if found guilty of causing the death of a student or any person by illegally passing a school bus.
Nationwide, there were an estimated 489,748 school buses transporting around 20.5 million elementary and secondary school students each day across the United States from 2021 to 2022. Despite safety protocols, there were 108 people killed in school bus-related crashes during that year, a 50% increase from the 54 reported deaths in 2020. These incidents highlight the importance of following traffic laws and safety measures to protect the lives of students and prevent tragic accidents like the one narrowly avoided by the quick actions of the New York bus driver.
