Related: Students Take Charge After School Bus Driver Goes Unconscious
Student Credited with Helping School Bus Driver During Medical Event
Ava Boenig of Connecticut calls 911 after her bus driver experiences a medical emergency behind the wheel.
PRESTON, Conn. — A student here is being credited for helping save her school bus driver who experienced a medical emergency behind the wheel.
Ava Boenig, a seventh-grade student at Preston Plains Middle School, was on her morning bus ride on Feb. 20 when the bus driver, Randy Centeno, suffered a medical emergency, WFSBreports. Boenig told the news source that Centeno pulled the bus over and started screaming in pain while asking someone to call 911. Centeno reportedly told Boenig that his chest was feeling tight, according to NBC Connecticut.
Boenig quickly used her cell phone to dial 911, WFSB reports. Paula Smith, the 911 dispatcher, told the news source that Boenig remained “very calm” throughout the call, despite hearing noise in the background from students and the bus driver in distress. Smith also said that Boenig was able to describe the bus’s exact location, and within minutes, another bus driver trained as an emergency medical technician (EMT) and Preston Fire Chief Tom Casey arrived to the scene.
Becky Boenig, Ava’s mother, told NBC Connecticut that she “couldn’t be more proud” of her daughter, who reportedly wants to become a state police trooper. Centeno added that he is “extremely thankful” for Boenig and all of the other students on the bus that day, and that he looks forward to thanking them in person. Preston Public Schools is planning a private recognition ceremony, according to NBC Connecticut.
More Safety

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 →
The Essential Handbook for Safe Alternative Student Transportation
Your district's "exception riders" — students with IEPs, those experiencing homelessness, foster care youth — deserve more than a middleman solution. This handbook breaks down exactly what to look for in a supplemental transportation partner: from driver vetting and regulatory compliance to proactive safety technology. Because getting a ride isn't the same as getting a safe one.
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 →
9-Year-Old Boy Killed by School Bus at Busy Brooklyn Intersection
A Williamsburg community is mourning after a child was fatally struck by a private yeshiva bus, prompting calls for urgent safety improvements at the high-traffic crossing.
Read More →
Does Reliable School Transportation Boost Attendance? EverDriven’s Data Says Yes
The new data shows 99.99% incident-free trips and strong on-time performance, reinforcing how dependable transportation, especially for vulnerable student populations, can help districts combat chronic absenteeism.
Read More →
