Hero Tow Truck Driver Honored For Helping During Rt. 80 Bus Crash

PARAMUS, NJ – A tow truck company owner was honored for his heroic actions following last year’s tragic Paramus school bus crash on Route 80.

On Tuesday, Mike Benson, of Parsippany-based Powder Mill Towing and Auto Repair, received AAA and Ford Motor Company’s “Real Heroes of the Road” award.

“I’m humbled and honored to receive this award,” Benson, 57, said. “I was in the right place at the right time and I just did what needed to be done.”

Read More: The Toll Of Tragedy: One Year After Route 80 Bus Crash

On May 17, 2018, Benson was towing a vehicle to Pennsylvania on Route 80 when he witnessed the school bus crash just ahead of him.

Thinking quickly, Benson pulled over and blocked traffic on the highway to prevent further injuries, then surveyed the scene and worked to free passengers from the bus before emergency responders arrived, even performing CPR on a young student. An emergency medical technician on scene said that because of his quick-thinking, that young student survived.

“Mike was exactly where he needed to be that day and embodied the true meaning of a ‘real hero of the road,’ helping to save dozens of lives,” said Bob Huffman, Director, AAA National Automotive Network of Savings/Service Provider Benefits Program. “AAA is pleased to recognize his life-saving efforts.”

For the past three years, AAA and Ford have handed out the award as a way to recognize roadside assistance provider’s most memorable experiences on the job.

Benson was nominated by a colleague and beat out more than 300 entries nationwide, AAA said. As part of the award, the Morristown resident will receive a new Ford truck, according to AAA.

Benson also recently received the “Outstanding EMS Action by a Citizen” award by the New Jersey Department of Health.

Authorities say Paramus school bus driver Hudy Muldrow, 77, caused the crash when he cut the school bus across three lanes of Route 80 traffic in an attempt to reach an official use only turn-around point in the median.

Authorities allege that Muldrow's "reckless operation" of the bus caused the deaths of teacher Jennifer Williamson-Kennedy and 10-year-old student Miranda Faith Vargas, and injured 40 other passengers on the bus and the driver of the dump truck that crashed into the bus. They were on their way to Waterloo Village in Byram Township on a field trip.

In May, Muldrow was indicted on two counts of reckless vehicular homicide and 41 counts of assault by auto in connection with the crash. Prior to the Route 80 crash, Muldrow's license was suspended more than 14 times.