Driven By Safety: Clarkstown School Bus Driver Wins Heroism Award

Cristina Rickert of New City, a bus driver with the Clarkstown Central School District, has received the 2010 New York State Bus Driver Heroism Award. 

The award recognizes a bus driver for heroic actions in the line of duty and is given jointly by the Pupil Transportation Safety Institute  and the New York Association for Pupil Transportation.  Rickert was honored on July 11 before an audience of 500 in Saratoga Springs at the NYAPT Annual Safety Conference.

Rickert's actions this winter saved the life of a student, according to the school district.

Relying on instinct and experience, she brought her school bus to a stop out of concern for three students she noticed playing on top of a snow bank not far the roadside at the corner of Cairnsmuir and Congers Road in New City near Clarkstown North High School. Within a short time of her initial sighting of the students, one slid under the wheels of Rickert's school bus.

Through she did not see the student sliding onto the road, she sensed the danger in the way the students were playing.

"All I did was what we've been trained to do at work.  This award is really for all of us at Clarkstown," Rickert said.

Rickert has worked for the school district since 2007 and drives students to North High School. She was among a group of school bus drivers honored by the school board earlier this year for their efforts.

Clarkstown Superintendent of Schools Dr. Margaret Keller-Cogan said Rickert's actions were exemplary, and her commitment to safety is what parents envision when they put their children on Clarkstown school busses

"We are very fortunate that due to Ms. Rickert's skill, experience and judgment, the disregard of the students for their personal safety that winter day did not end in tragedy," said Keller-Cogan. "I congratulate her on receipt of this award."