KEYSER — Mineral County Schools bus operator Bill Clark was presented with an “ABCD” Award Tuesday for going “Above and Beyond the Call of Duty” in watching over the safety of his students.
According to Clark, however, the incident for which he was honored was “just a part of my job.”
According to Mineral County Board of Education member Craig Rotruck, however, Clark's actions on a recent school day could possibly have saved the life of one of his young passengers.
“Bill was doing his normal run in the Airport Addition, and saw a car in a place where it was normally not sitting,” Rotruck explained Tuesday during the regular board of education meeting. Feeling wary about the strange car, Clark took down the license number and reported it.
In the meantime, an occupant of the car had apparently approached one of the children that got off the bus.
“It was a first or second grader, and she took off running to her grandparents' house,” Rotruck said, noting that the incident came to his attention because his own daughter rides Clark's bus.
“Due to Mr. Clark's work, the police were able to track the car down,” Rotruck said.
“The parents of those children want to thank you so much,” he told Clark. “Without your extra efforts, they wouldn't have been able to track this person down.
“Now, they can sleep at night.”
Director of Transportation John Haines told the board he was “proud to be associated with drivers like Bill. He exemplifies the type of drivers we have in this county.
“They are truly concerned about the students and their safety.”
Due to Clark's actions, Haines continued, “I think something a lot more serious was avoided here .”
Referring to the annual School Bus Safety Week which the county observes, Superintendent of Schools Skip Hackworth said, “with our drivers, every day is School Bus Safety Day.”
Keyser, W.Va. —
