School Bus Driver Honored for Helping Student’s Grandmother
Helen Johnson of Michigan is recognized by her company and the district she serves for checking on the student’s grandmother, who had fallen, and for staying until medical help arrived.

Helen Johnson, shown center, was honored by her company and the district she serves for helping a student's grandmother, who had fallen.

Helen Johnson, shown center, was honored by her company and the district she serves for helping a student's grandmother, who had fallen.
LAKEVIEW, Mich. — A school bus driver here was honored for going above and beyond when she noticed something amiss at a student’s home and helped the student’s grandmother, who had fallen.
On July 16, Helen Johnson, a bus driver who works for Michigan Educational Transportation Services (METS), noticed that a student’s grandmother didn’t answer the door for the student when she arrived at home the way she usually did, the Daily News reports. After Johnson discovered that the grandmother had fallen and needed an ambulance, she called 911 and stayed with the student and grandmother until medical help arrived.
The student’s mother told the newspaper that her mother may have been stuck in the home for a couple more hours if Johnson hadn’t checked on her, and that her mother is doing better after spending some time in the hospital.
The Board of Education for Lakeview Community Schools, the district that Johnson drives for, recognized her actions at a meeting on Aug. 13. David England, the school board’s vice president, told Johnson in the meeting that the Board of Education and the community are proud of her for “going above and beyond by seeing a need and taking care of the problem.”
METS also recognized Johnson, presenting her with the company’s “Above and Beyond” award on Monday, at a back-to-school meeting for drivers, Chad Brown, vice president of sales and marketing, told SBF in an email.
Johnson has been a school bus driver for 30 years, and she has driven for METS for the last eight years, Brown added.
More Safety

2 Killed, Dozens Injured in Florida School Bus Crash
A multi-vehicle collision caused a Polk County school bus carrying 37 students to overturn on its way to Winter Haven High School.
Read More →
Illegal School Bus Passing Drops 24% in New York Districts
With fewer than 5% of citations involving repeat offenders, Westchester County officials said enforcement, education, and community partnerships are helping change driver behavior.
Read More →
School's Back. Here's What Happened to Traffic, Speeding & Distraction
What happens to traffic when school resumes? New data analysis examines changes in distracted driving, congestion, and speeding around schools.
Read More →
Geotab Expands Fleet Safety Tools With Video Coaching, Risk Insights
New safety and video capabilities aim to help fleet managers assess risk, support drivers, and take targeted action through video coaching, red-light violation detection, and more.
Read More →
How to Build a Better School Bus Driver Training Program
Is it time to strengthen your driver training? Here’s how to pick the right talent and improve recruitment, retention, and safety. This video is brought to you by IC Bus.
Read More →
Recent School Bus Accidents Leave 2 Dead, 2 Injured
Four school bus crashes in Florida, Illinois, and Georgia highlight risks in transportation lots, at bus stops, and during student loading and unloading.
Read More →
When Every Second Matters, Clarity Keeps Routes Moving
From routine delays to urgent incidents, strong communication practices help drivers, dispatchers, schools, and families respond with confidence.
Read More →
What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help
School bus fires are rare but can be devastating. Learn how advances in fire suppression and asset protection help fleets detect fires earlier, reduce damage, and improve safety.
Read More →
Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents
Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.
Read More →
Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest
Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.
Read More →
