A New York school bus driver is being hailed as a hero for saving a young girl’s life after a careless sped past the bus’s stop sign while students were exiting at a stop.
The frightening incident was captured on a doorbell video, and shared by the Manlius Police Department, which showed the Fayetteville-Manlius bus driver stopping to drop off the student on Thursday afternoon.
As other cars are seen stopping to allow the students to exit, out of nowhere, a “gold/tan” Toyota Camry is seen speeding around the school bus’s right side and directly in the students’ path.
The bus driver — identified as “Ms. Debbie” in comments on the police department’s post — quickly grabbed the girl by her backpack and yanked her back inside the bus, according to WHAM13.
In the video, the Camry can be heard clipping the side of a mailbox as it passes in front of the bus doors.
A woman waiting to pick up students was seen walking toward the bus when the driver sped by, causing her to stutter back in her steps and freeze in complete fear.
No injuries were reported as the driver fled the area, according to police.
“We first ask that if you are the driver of this vehicle, please come forward,” the department said in the post. “We are currently obtaining and reviewing video from the surrounding area and you will be identified.”
Fayetteville is about 10 miles outside downtown Syracuse.
While the near-fatal incident has many outraged, others praised the quick-thinking bus driver.
“My children were on that bus. Thank god for their bus driver, Miss Debbie,” one person claimed. “She is always so cautious with the kids. We are so lucky to have her.”
“This is our school bus! Please recognize the bus driver, Miss Debbie, who is ALWAYS diligent and has the children’s safety as her first priority!!!!!!” wrote another.
“That’s my daughter’s bus. We are so grateful for Miss Debbie! She is so cautious and I have always felt 110% safe with my daughter on her bus. Thank you, Miss Debbie,” another grateful parent commented.
Around 50,000 motor vehicles illegally pass school buses every day in New York, according to state-provided statistics.
If found illegally passing a school bus in New York, a person can be slapped with a $250 to $400 fine and up to 30 days in jail for their first offense.
A second conviction within three years is a fine of $600 to $750 and up to 180 days in jail. A third conviction or more within three years is a $750 to $1000 fine and 180 days in prison.
Each conviction also adds five points to a driver’s license if found guilty, according to the NY State Department of Motor Vehicles.
Drivers can be charged with vehicular manslaughter — a class C felony that carries a maximum of 15 years in prison — if they are found guilty of killing a student or any person when they illegally pass a school bus.
From 2021 to 2022, there were an estimated 489,748 school buses carrying about 20.5 million elementary and secondary school students each day across the United States, according to the National Safety Council.
During that year, there were 108 people killed nationwide in school bus-related crashes, which is up 50% compared to the 54 reported deaths in 2020.
