North Fork School Bus Driver Saves Child: 'Very Close Call'

MATTITUCK, NY — A school bus driver helped prevent what could have been a tragedy in Mattituck on Tuesday as a driver tried to speed past the bus as a student was boarding, officials said.

The Sunrise bus driver was on a run to Cutchogue East Elementary School, according to Mattituck-Cutchogue School District Superintendent of Schools Jill Gierasch.

"Kristen Tirelli, the driver of the bus, had just stopped on Route 48 to allow a single passenger to board when she noticed a car in her rear and side mirror drive to pass the bus on the right shoulder where the child was approaching the bus — just feet away," Gierasch said. "She immediately shouted for the child to get back and not board the bus."

Gierasch said during that split-second moment, the training of the bus drivers and the students came into play.

"The child said he was instructed numerous times both this year and last to await the driver’s signal and to look both ways," she said. "Ms. Tirelli is commended for not only saving this child but for her daily commitment and control of the students she serves."

All Sunrise buses servicing the Mattituck-Cutchogue School District have cameras and Tueday's near-miss was caught on video, Gierasch said.

"We will be recognizing Kristen for her heroism at a future Board of Education meeting," Gierasch said.

Southold Town Police also helped to avert the tragedy and address the driver, she said.

Southold Town Police Chief Martin Flately said a lieutenant from the department happened to be traveling behind the bus in an unmarked police vehicle on Rt. 48 in Mattituck and stopped for the flashing red lights on the bus.

"He noticed a vehicle approaching from the rear driving at a high rate of speed that he thought would not be able to stop for the bus so he put his lights on and maneuvered behind the bus to block it," Flatley said. "At that moment the driver of the vehicle veered to the right shoulder and skid past the bus to a stop."

The lieutenant stood by with the driver of the car and issued him summonses, also ensuring that both the bus driver and students were fine and able to leave the scene, Flatley said.

"The lieutenant stated that it was a very close call," Flatley said.

The incident, he added, was attributed to driver inattention.

"We had a very close call," David Surozenski, examiner for Sunrise Busses, Inc., agreed. "The driver did a professional job. The training that our driver, as well students, received saved a life that day."

All agreed that drivers need to be more aware of their surroundings, including school buses.

Earlier in March, a new bus safety program officially launched in Suffolk County.

In November, County Executive Steve Bellone announced that the county has partnered with BusPatrol to launch a new school bus transportation safety and enforcement program.

The safety program, which is completely cost-free to taxpayers and school districts according to Bellone, will cover 6,000 buses, adding several new features including cameras.

The program will implement new technology across all 48 school districts in the county that have chosen to be a part of the program.

"As a father of three children, nothing is more important than ensuring their safety and wellbeing," Bellone said in November. "This new technology will ensure that our students will be further protected against dangerous driving when they are boarding a bus to go to school."