Teen Pulls Bus Over After Driver has Heart Attack!

Graceann Rumer is pictured above.

17-year-old Graceann Rumer possibly saved not only her life but the lives of dozens of other children when her school bus driver had a heart attack. Rumer's quick thinking got the bus off the road and out of traffic. 51-year-old driver Charles Duncan passed out while driving his students home on January 26, losing control of the wheel.

Rumer immediately jumped into action, taking the wheel and turning the bus away from the oncoming traffic. With Duncan's feet still blocking the brakes, she pulled the bus to the side of the road and put it in park. None of the students were injured, but the driver passed away shortly afterward.

We at Hoglund Transportation would like to applaud Rumer for an excellent job! For showing such control over herself in a fearful situation and protecting the lives of others! Good Job!

Thank You,

Haleigh

Driver Trapped Under Bus

At Hood River, OR., school bus driver was trapped under her bus this week. While driving students to school Meridith Cole felt something was off with her bus. After pulling off the road, she went to check on a possible broken tire chain. While inspecting the chain, the school bus slipped on the ice and Cole was stuck underneath it. It took around fifty minutes, and the help of Hood River County Sheriff's Office, Odell Fire Department and Oregon State Police troopers to save Cole.

The driver was transported to the hospital and is doing well. The four students on board were not injured and were able to be switched to another bus and brought to school where their parents were called.

This is just a reminder to be careful while driving in this Minnesota-harsh winter weather. There is ice and snow coating the roads, so be sure your vehicle is okay to drive before leaving home. In case of a possible break down, try to keep these items either with you or in your vehicle.

1. 
   
   
   
   A cell phone




2. 
   
   
   
   Warm clothes/blanket




3. 
   
   
   
   Tool kit




4. 
   
   
   
   Something to do while you wait to be towed :)

The last one is optional, but also recommended. Also, try to stay in your vehicle if you can. It will keep you warmer, and it's an overall more safe environment for the situation you're in. Have fun playing in the snow, and remember to drive safe!

Thank You,

Haleigh

Five Girls, Two Boys, and ONE Victim

A 13-year-old girl (who remains unidentified) was beaten while on her bus in OCALA, FL. The assailants, ranging in age from twelve to fifteen-years-old, attacked the girl while she was looking for a seat. A shoe was thrown at the girl, and when she threw it back, the seven students climbed over seats and other passengers to get to her. She was brought to the hospital where authorities say she was beaten multiple times. She was treated for a concussion, muscle spasms and a serious head bruise. She has been released from the hospital and is currently recuperating at home.
When the driver noticed the attack, he stopped the bus, and the fight stopped. As he resumed the route, the fight started again. Unable to stop the fight, the driver reported the incident to school officials, who then called the police. When the police arrived the children were arrested and charged with felony battery and disorderly conduct.

Judge Frances King decided to release the seven (who the prosecutor said had no prior arrests) to their parents or guardians, and place them on home detention. They are not allowed to contact the other offenders or the victim. All of the students, including the victim, attend Liberty Middle School, and at least one of the seven attackers has been suspended from both school and the bus.

I cringe when I come across stories like this. Violence, malice and pain are things that should never be experienced while on a school bus because the bus should be a place where students don't feel threatened. Best wishes for the injured girl, and I hope that this incident does not keep her from school or school buses for long. As for the other seven, I can only hope that they learned their lesson.

Thank You,
Haleigh

Oh What a Great Way to Start the Day!

Getting a child excited about learning and going to school can be the trickiest part of a parent's day, even more so as the students get older. I, for one, am never very happy to leave my warm covers only to get into a cold vehicle. Although knowing that a warm school bus, a happy driver, and some trivia from Dennis Stricker would make any morning much better!

Pictured above is Dennis Stricker unloading his school bus at school.

Dennis is a bus driver in Mendota Heights, MN, and has been driving for about ten years. Over the last two years he has started to ask the students a trivia question when they board the bus. It all started when he had a question one morning. When he didn't find an answer, he asked the students. They didn't have an answer that morning, but they did when they reboarded the bus that night. From then on he would ask them questions on science, math, history, geography and more.

Since the first adult many students see is their driver, Dennis went above and beyond what was asked of him to form a connection with his riders. This also allows the students to get into a learning mindset before the school day even starts! I admit that these kinds of stories are my favorite to read and learn about. It just makes me genuinely happy to see how much people care about what goes on around them, and how something they do can have such a positive impact on someone else's day!

Thank You,
Haleigh

Windham Boy Hit by Truck

An eleven-year-old boy was struck by a pick-up truck while crossing the road to board his school bus on the morning of December 22nd. The boy was hit by Ryan Boucher (22- years-old) when he failed to stop for the bus, even though it's warning lights were flashing. Windham police Sgt. David Thomas said, “I’ve never seen one of those in 30 years where a student has been hit”. The boy was listed as having a stable condition and is expected to make a full recovery.

Boucher was heading westbound on Route 115 when he hit Xin Lao Chen, who hit the roof of the truck and remained conscious afterwards. With speed limit in that area at 35mph and the weather being clear, Boucher gave no reason for not stopping. He is facing the charge of failing to yield for a school bus, and possibly others after further investigation. The students were loaded onto a different bus and taken to school while Chen was brought to the hospital.

It's unfortunate that illegal passing of school buses happen daily, and that it's not a rare occurance that a student is injured. It is an easy law to follow, just stop. It only takes a few minutes no matter how much of a rush you're in, and it isn't worth risking a child's life.

Thank You,
Haleigh