DALTON TOWNSHIP. MICH. — A Dean Transportation bus driver sprung into action after two of her students were hit by a car while boarding the bus Tuesday morning.
The employee had extensive training as a paramedic and provided first-aid to the kids in the moments after the crash, Dean confirmed to FOX 17.
Fourteen-year-old Tajen Pannell and his sister, also 14, were both hit by a car while they were crossing East Tyler Road in Dalton Township to board the bus around 7 a.m. on Tuesday. The car took off after the accident.
According to a witness, the bus was stopped with the red flashers fully operational. The car approached from the rear and passed the stopped bus, when the crash occurred.
“It was a very traumatic event for a lot of folks yesterday, company-wide and school district-wide,” said Kellie Dean, President and CEO of Dean Transportation. “Our driver, who is very well-trained, did an outstanding, in fact heroic job, maintaining all of her professional skills throughout this truly tragic incident.”
Michigan State Police announced earlier in the day they had arrested a 22-year-old Twin Lake man in connection to Tuesday’s hit-and-run. He’s expected to be arraigned in Muskegon District Court on Thursday, when his name will be made public.
