Teens stop school bus during driver medical emergency
When their bus driver became unresponsive, three New Jersey students were able to put the bus in park, take the keys and let the students off the bus. No students were harmed in the incident.
BRIDGEWATER, N.J. — Three teenage students helped avert a potential tragedy on their school bus on Wednesday by intervening when the bus driver suffered a medical emergency at the wheel, MyCentralJersey reports.
At about 7:35 a.m., the bus driver became unresponsive while driving the students to school, according to the news source. The students started shouting that he had missed the turnoff to the school, and the bus continued to travel down the road, swerving until it slowed at a red light.
Then, students Gavin Costello, Angelo Mel-Tos and Kala Wright approached the bus driver. Costello tried to give the bus driver directions, but the driver couldn’t look up or talk. Costello then put the bus in park, Mel-Tos took the keys, and Wright opened the door to let the students out, MyCentralJersey reports. Police arrived on the scene and took the bus driver, who was in stable condition, to the hospital, according to the news source. No students were harmed in the incident.
The superintendent for Somerset County Vocational & Technical Schools described the students as very focused, “with a can-do attitude,” and said that the school is proud of them, according to the news source.
To read the full story, go here.
More Safety

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 →
New Study Finds School Zone Speed Safety Cameras Cut Speeding Violations 97%
A Florida university's research demonstrates that Verra Mobility's automated enforcement changes driver behavior and significantly improves school zone safety.
Read More →
What Changed in DOT’s New National Roadway Safety Strategy?
The federal agency's new plan shifts its focus to safer people, roads and vehicles, with a new three-pronged approach instead of five. One outlined action even addresses a key industry concern around illegal school bus passing.
Read More →

