The Middletown Press (Middletown, CT)
School bus driver credited with saving girl’s life
EAST HAMPTON >> A DATTCO school bus driver for the East Hampton school district has been credited with saving the life of one of his Center School student passengers.
In early February, a 9-year old girl was nearly struck by a speeding SUV that failed to obey the bus stop sign and flashing lights, according to a release from the bus company. The girl was trying to cross Main Street to her home where her mother was waiting and watching.
Driver Randy Kronick, who credits the safety procedures put in place by DATTCO, acted quickly when he realized the driver was not slowing down and rescued the girl from being hit by the oncoming car, according to the release.
As part of safety procedures, DATTCO drivers are trained to ensure close com- munication with their stu- dents and assist them in crossing streets, the com- pany said. Students and drivers typically maintain eye contact, and the students know to wait for cues from the driver when it is deemed safe to cross.
Kronick, who does not consider himself a hero, says he was just doing his job, and that adhering to safety guidelines and making sure students follow the rules and stay in contact with him until they are safely with their parent or guardian is what saved the 9-year-old’s life that day, according to the release.
This year, DATTCO launched a new campaign – “Safety Starts with Me” – where employees across all divisions have pledged to make safety their priority when on the job. East Hampton Branch Manager Eric Thompson and Phil Johnson, vice president of DATTCO’s School Bus Division, agree that Kronick actions in this situation are a prime example of how prioritizing safety and practicing consistency with procedures can make all the difference in a life or death situation, according to the release.
Since the incident, Kronick has slightly altered his route so the girl is dropped off directly in front of her home and does not have to cross the street, a change that was welcomed by the school district, DATTCO and the girl’s mother, the bus company says.
“At DATTCO the safety of the children we transport is our number one priority,” said Don DeVivo, president of DATTCO, in the release. “We are so grateful for Randy and his heroic actions. We pride ourselves on employing the best transportation professionals in the country, and Randy certainly is a stellar example of this.”