SBF 70 years logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

School Bus Drivers Rescue Missing Michigan Toddler

The drivers helped reunite the child with his parents, just minutes after the car he was sitting in was stolen.

Christy Grimes
Christy GrimesFormer Senior Editor
October 17, 2022
School Bus Drivers Rescue Missing Michigan Toddler

A school bus driver reunited a toddler with his parents after another driver alerted her about the missing child.

Photo: Canva/Kelloggsville Public Schools/School Bus Fleet

2 min to read


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.

Ad Loading...

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.”

More Safety

A close up detail of the back of a school bus with text reading "Insight From 10 Years of NHTSA Data."
Safetyby Elora HaynesJuly 22, 2026

NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes

The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.

Read More →
Graphic for a School Bus Fleet news story featuring the NASDPTS logo, a speaker presenting with a microphone, and the headline, "38.4 Million Stop-Arm Violations," highlighting annual illegal school bus passing estimates.
Safetyby Amanda HuggettJuly 21, 2026

2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing

New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.

Read More →
Graphic illustrating a fatal school bus incident in New York, featuring a close-up view of the front of a yellow school bus with a cracked-glass overlay and the headline, "7-Year-Old Fatally Struck in New York," dated July 9, 2026, alongside the School Bus Fleet logo.
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsJuly 9, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
School buses at NSTA's SBDISC Roadeo with text reading "School Bus Drivers Put Their Skills to the Test."
Safetyby Staff and News ReportsJune 30, 2026

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 →
zonar system image
SponsoredJune 22, 2026

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 →
Promotional graphic for a new Pro-Vision AI camera system. The image shows a monitor displaying camera views with AI object detection overlays, along with multiple cameras and recording hardware. Text reads "New Product," "Pro-Vision," and "Visibly Better." School Bus Fleet logo appears in the lower-right corner.
SafetyJune 11, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
A New York school bus in the street.
Safetyby Elora HaynesJune 9, 2026

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 →
Graphic for an opinion article on illegal school bus passing. A school bus with its stop arm extended is stopped as children cross the street, while a black SUV drives past. Headline reads, “America’s School Bus Blind Spot.” School Bus Fleet branding appears in the corner.
SafetyJune 8, 2026

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 →
A black, white, and red graphic with an image of a school bus on a New York street and text reading "Legislative Roundup May 2026."
Safetyby Elora HaynesMay 29, 2026

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 →
Ad Loading...
Emergency response personnel assist participants evacuating through the rear emergency door of a yellow school bus during a hands-on safety training exercise at Prosper ISD. Smoke fills the bus interior as responders demonstrate emergency evacuation procedures.
Safetyby News/Media ReleaseMay 21, 2026

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 →