Driver Honored for Saving Student From Truck Passing Her School Bus

Becky Schaffer receives Citrus County (Fla.) School District's "Making a Difference Award" after helping prevent a student from being hit by a truck that illegally passed her bus in April.

Sadiah Thompson・Assistant Editor

September 16, 2019

Driver Honored for Saving Student From Truck Passing Her School Bus — Citrus County (Fla.) School District presented Becky Schaffer (center) with the district's "Making a Difference Award" after she helped prevent a student from being hit by a truck that illegally passed her bus in April. Photo courtesy Citrus County School District

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Citrus County (Fla.) School District presented Becky Schaffer (center) with the district's "Making a Difference Award" after she helped prevent a student from being hit by a truck that illegally passed her bus in April. Photo courtesy Citrus County School District

INVERNESS, Fla. — A school bus driver here was honored for her heroic actions on Tuesday after helping prevent a student from being hit by a truck that illegally passed her bus in April.

The incident, which took place on April 18, was captured on a video surveillance camera on a Citrus County School District bus, according to a post on the district’s Facebook page. The footage reportedly shows the student getting off the bus in the eastbound lanes of State Rd. 44 near South Sunfish Avenue, when the driver, Becky Schaffer, alerts the student to get back on the bus as the truck speeds by. The student, according to the district, was able to hear Schaffer and safely reenter the bus.

On Tuesday, Citrus County School District board members and Superintendent Sandra “Sam” Himmel presented Schaffer with the district's "Making a Difference Award" in honor of her quick actions, according to a board meeting video on the district’s website. While presenting the award, Himmel said “I truly believe she saved the life of this student,” and “what a marvelous job she did with her alertness to keep our kids safe.”

The Citrus County School District added in its Facebook post that Schaffer is a “true hero,” and that the district thanks her for her “quick actions in this situation and also the tremendous job you do for our kids each and every day.”

Despite being called a hero, Schaffer told Fox 13 News that she was only doing her job. She added that she hopes this incident will serve as a reminder for motorists to slow down, and that “it’s not worth it to go flying by and take a chance of risking my life, your life, and our kid’s life.”

View the full post from Citrus County School District as well as screenshots of the bus surveillance video, posted on the district’s Facebook page, below.

Topics:driver heroism Florida stop-arm running/illegal passing Safety

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