“There was a silver car coming up fast on the side,” Harper recounted to local news outlet WBNG. “Alex was just about to take his third step down, and all I could think was he was going to get hurt, so I just pulled him back.”
Security footage from the bus captured the intense moment, leaving Alex’s mother, Sarah Johnson, in tears when she viewed it. “I couldn’t believe how vigilant she was, looking out for him,” Johnson expressed. “Most people wouldn’t think to check the door side of the bus. It’s a big yellow school bus with its lights on, doors open, and stop sign extended. Drivers are supposed to stop for that.”
Johnson’s sentiments ring true. Traffic laws mandate that vehicles must halt when a school bus is stopped with its red lights flashing. Sadly, this law is frequently ignored. According to a 2014 survey by the National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, over 75,000 drivers illegally pass school buses every single day, resulting in a staggering 13 million violations annually. Tragically, between nine and 15 children are killed each year while boarding or exiting school buses in traffic, as noted by the National School Transportation Association (NSTA).
The issue is glaringly apparent, with several heartbreaking incidents reported. In October 2018, three siblings were killed in Indiana by a car while trying to board their bus. In the same month, another child lost their life in Mississippi under similar circumstances. A 7-year-old boy in Pennsylvania was struck and killed in November 2018 while waiting at his bus stop.
In light of such tragedies, the actions of Lisa Harper stand out. “I’m so relieved I was able to bring him back to his mom,” she shared. “I don’t think I could have faced getting back on that bus if something had happened.”
We extend our deepest gratitude to Lisa Harper for her heroic actions that day, preventing another tragedy.
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In summary, the timely intervention of a dedicated bus driver not only saved a child’s life but also highlighted the critical need for drivers to obey traffic laws regarding school buses. Awareness and vigilance can prevent unnecessary tragedies on our roads.