School Bus Driver Saves Toddler From Freezing Temperatures
Lyle Silbernagle of Minnesota spots the boy alone at a street corner wearing only a diaper. He wraps the boy in his coat, brings him into the van and turns on the heat, and calls police.
MINNEAPOLIS — A school bus driver here was honored for saving a wandering toddler he spotted at a street corner from frigid temperatures while driving one recent morning.
Lyle Silbernagle, who has driven buses for Minneapolis Public Schools for 36 years, was driving a school van at 8:30 a.m. on March 5 when he noticed the boy, who was alone and dressed only in a diaper, KSTP reports. Silbernagle told the news source that he quickly pulled over and got out of the van, wrapped the boy up in his coat, placed him in the front seat of the van, and called his supervisors and police. He also pointed the van’s vents at the boy and turned on the heat, rubbing the boy’s hands and talking to him while they waited for help to arrive.
KSTP reports that the temperature was 4 degrees Fahrenheit that day, and with the windchill, it felt like minus 12 degrees Fahrenheit, placing the boy at risk of hypothermia or frostbite. The police report stated that the boy had to climb down several flights of stairs, traverse an icy sidewalk and cross a busy street to get to where Silbernagle found him, FOX 9 reports. Police told FOX 9 that the boy was examined at the hospital and is OK, and that the incident is being investigated as a child neglect and endangerment case.
Silbernagle was recognized for his quick actions at a recent school board meeting, according to KSTP. Ed Graff, the superintendent for the school district, said that the boy “was unharmed and in good hands” because of Silbernagle. Silbernagle said at the meeting that he was “just there at the right time, doing what you're supposed to do."
More Safety

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 →
Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty
With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.
Read More →
Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System
The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.
Read More →
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 →

