Related: Student Credited for Quick Actions in Italian School Bus Hijacking
School Bus Driver Rescues Student Kidnapped During Carjacking
Elsa Fox, a driver for Sultan (Wash.) School District #311, sees the student being forced out of a car, pulls her bus over, and takes the student home.
SULTAN, Wash. — A school bus driver is being credited for rescuing a student who was kidnapped during a carjacking incident here last week, officials said.
The incident occurred on Jan. 28 at around 4:10 p.m. on the 35700 block of Mann Rd., according to a news release from the Snohomish County Sheriff’s Office. The suspect, identified by KOMO News as Jessy Benjamin Rylah, 31, threw a motorist out of her vehicle and stole it while a 9-year-old student was still inside, the Sheriff’s Office reported. While driving, Rylah slowed the vehicle down and then ordered the student to “get out” and forced her out of the car.
Elsa Fox, a school bus driver for Sultan School District #311, saw the fourth-grade student getting out of the car and pulled her bus over, according to KOMO News. Fox told the news source that the student “waved [at] me with her hands” and that she had recognized the student after dropping her off at a nearby bus stop. Fox added that she was able to calm the student down before taking her home. The student was uninjured and reunited with her family, the Sheriff's Office reports.
On Friday, Sultan School District #311 said in a statement on its website that the district is thankful that the student is safe and that it is “especially grateful for the instincts and quick reactions” of Fox and the student. Fox has been driving with the district for 17 years, according to KOMO News.
The incident is currently under investigation, but deputies believe Rylah may know the motorist and the student involved. Rylah, who was taken to the Snohomish County Jail, faces several charges, including first-degree kidnapping, first-degree robbery, theft of a motor vehicle, vehicle prowling, and reckless endangerment, according to the Sheriff's Office.
More Safety

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 →
NSTA Announces 2026 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Winners
Drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showcased their safety and driving skills, with two defending champions successfully retaining their titles.
Read More →
The Driver Shortage Playbook
Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.
Read More →
Pro-Vision Launches AI-Powered 360° Camera System
The new Birdseye camera delivers real-time AI-based pedestrian and vehicle detections, full visibility around the bus, and telematics integrations.
Read More →
N.Y. & N.J. Coalitions Call for Modernized Transportation for Vulnerable Students
New statewide coalitions in New York and New Jersey are urging lawmakers to expand student transportation options for vulnerable students amid ongoing driver shortages.
Read More →
America Has a School Bus Passing Problem — and Distraction Is Making It Worse
Illegal school bus passing remains a major safety threat as distracted driving rises. This op-ed explores why awareness, enforcement, and stop-arm cameras matter more than ever.
Read More →
School Bus Laws to Watch: New York Delays EV Mandate
Plus, federal lawmakers seek new funding for school bus safety as states weigh stop-arm enforcement, disability protections, and education spending.
Read More →
Operation STEER Brings Emergency Response Training to North Texas
Prosper ISD hosted the third annual training for transportation professionals across 67 districts to learn how to respond to emergencies, such as rollovers and evacuations, and proper use of safety equipment.
Read More →
Florida District Relaunches BusPatrol School Bus Camera Program With New Safeguards
After being suspended over due process concerns, Miami-Dade schools and law enforcement are restarting the AI-powered stop-arm camera program with new oversight.
Read More →
School Bus Laws To Watch: Seat Belt Bills, Funding Fights & EV Changes
From national bills on seat belts and driver oversight to driver awareness campaigns referencing “Finn’s Rule” and ongoing transportation funding debates in Alaska, here’s the latest in school bus legislation across the U.S.
Read More →
