Reimann, left, and Smith
BREWSTER – A Brewster school bus driver is being heralded as a hero this week for averting a calamity when a vehicle passed her stopped and unloading bus as three children were about to exit.
Brewster School District Transportation Director Mary Smith credited Elke Reimann’s “concentration and speedy reaction” for preventing the children from getting off the bus, a miracle that prevented a tragedy of monumental proportions from occurring.
Smith noted that a “driver’s undivided attention is expected during the task of loading and unloading students at a bus stop. Drivers also must be prepared to communicate with students at every moment. In this case, Reimann’s undivided attention to her mirrors enabled her to communicate quickly with her students.”
The incident took place recently on Route 22 in the vicinity of Old Route 22 near the Southeast-Patterson town line when the bus stopped to deliver three C.V. Starr Intermediate School children to their families.
Immediately after the incident, Smith contacted authorities but the perpetrator who passed the stopped bus on the right side, driving across a lawn and private driveway instead of obeying the law and stopping, escaped.
“I didn’t do anything differently from what another driver would have done,” said Reimann. “A driver hears about situations like this but you never expect it will happen to you. My good reflexes saved the day!”
Reimann might be modest about the incident but Smith sings her praises every day. “Elke Reimann is one of Brewster’s best.”
