School Bus Drivers Rescue Missing Michigan Toddler

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.”