Check Out: SBF Incident Report Roundup: Sept. 22, 2022
School Bus Drivers Rescue Missing Michigan Toddler
The drivers helped reunite the child with his parents, just minutes after the car he was sitting in was stolen.

A school bus driver reunited a toddler with his parents after another driver alerted her about the missing child.
Photo: Canva/Kelloggsville Public Schools/School Bus Fleet
Two school bus drivers received recognition for their quick actions in locating a missing toddler in Kentwood, Michigan.
On Oct. 4, a school bus driver for Kelloggsville Public Schools was on his morning route when two people at a bus stop alerted him that their car had just been stolen with their 2-year-old child inside. It's unclear why they were outside the car at the time. Video showed the driver calling 911, then alerting nearby school bus drivers about the incident. Another school bus driver in the area heard the alert and stated she had just passed a small child standing by the street in a residential area. She turned around, went back to the location where the child was, and picked up the child. She put the child in one of the seats and returned to the location where the incident happened, reuniting him with his parents unharmed.
The car was found in Grand Rapids shortly after it was stolen. It appeared tht the suspect took the car, dropped the child off nearby, then drove off and abandoned the vehicle in another town.
On Oct. 13, Kentwood Police identified a 16-year-old believed to have been involved in the incident. The teen was charged with child abandonment, unlawful driving away of an automobile, lying/obstructing police, and malicious destruction of property under $1,000.
“I would like to commend our Kentwood Police officers and the officers from our neighboring communities on their tireless work to identify and locate this individual,” said Kentwood Police Chief Bryan Litwin. “I would also like to thank the bus drivers from Kelloggsville Public Schools for their quick actions in locating the missing child and returning him to his parents.”
More Safety

How To Build a More Secure School Bus Yard During and After Hours
As thefts and overnight security threats continue, school transportation leaders are combining stronger operational practices with AI-enabled surveillance to better protect buses, facilities, and staff.
Read More →
FMCSA Names New Chief Safety Officer: What School Bus Operators Should Know
Steve Dowling is set to lead the federal agency's efforts to advance commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the nation's roadways.
Read More →
New Study Finds School Zone Speed Safety Cameras Cut Speeding Violations 97%
A Florida university's research demonstrates that Verra Mobility's automated enforcement changes driver behavior and significantly improves school zone safety.
Read More →
What Changed in DOT’s New National Roadway Safety Strategy?
The federal agency's new plan shifts its focus to safer people, roads and vehicles, with a new three-pronged approach instead of five. One outlined action even addresses a key industry concern around illegal school bus passing.
Read More →
Are Autonomous Vehicles Ready to Safely Navigate School Bus Stops?
NHTSA is accelerating autonomous vehicle deployment through new safety standards and commercial approvals. See why school transportation leaders are watching.
Read More →
NFL Star Lomas Brown Kicks Off New Illegal School Bus Passing PSA
Just in time for the back-to-school season, the former Detroit Lions offensive tackle took time to record a video encouraging motorists to slow down around school buses.
Read More →
How Two Texas Districts Built Award-Winning Safety Programs
Learn how Prosper ISD and Rockwall ISD earned National Safety Council honors through hands-on training, safety culture, and strategies that reduced transportation incidents.
Read More →
NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes
The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.
Read More →
2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing
New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.
Read More →
Another School Bus Fatality Reported in Monsey, New York
A 7-year-old girl died after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York while crossing the street. Here's what we know.
Read More →
