Fast-Acting Bus Driver in Upstate Used ‘Arm Break’ to Save Student

Shout out to all the bus drivers in Upstate NY taking our kids to and from school, and doing so responsibly and alert, unlike most other motorists on the road.

Hero bus driver

Samantha Call, a Norwich City School District bus driver (two hours southwest of Albany), recently prevented a student from being hit by a car (see the video below) when she alertly grabbed him from behind, employing a good old-fashioned "arm break" to prevent him from walking through the opened doors.

In the 37-second video, you see that the bus had come to a complete stop.  Shortly after, a young man is seen walking to the front of the bus, just trying to get off.

Arm break

But a second after the door opens, Call's spidey senses take over - and it's a good thing they did because the fast-acting driver grabbed the young man and employed an "arm break" milliseconds before he could have been run over by a reckless driver who didn't stop.

According to sources, on April 26, at around 10:45 in the morning, the bus was stopped on state Route 12 with its stop arm out and red lights flashing - but the oncoming driver still didn't stop.

“She did amazing,” Loomis said about Call’s actions. “She prevented a tragedy."  William Loomis, the school district’s transportation supervisor.

William Loomis, the school district's transportation supervisor hailed Call a hero and said that the "young boy went home this morning because of Call."

According to New York Upstate, Loomis also reported the incident to the Chenango County Sheriff’s Office, but he said the driver has not been located.