Clovis Unified bus driver honored with state award for heroic response during emergency

CLOVIS, Calif. (KFSN) -- Clovis Unified School District autobus drivers were recognized Tuesday for their committedness to pupil information during the district's yearly School Bus Driver Day.

Each morning, dozens of buses depart the district's proscription gait to transportation students to and from school. District officials said the yearly lawsuit is meant to admit the men and women down the wheel.

"So it's conscionable a mode to admit our schoolhouse autobus drivers and however peculiar they truly are successful taking attraction of our students, and taking them and driving them safely, safely each and each day," said Steven Mirelez, Clovis Unified proscription director.

This year's solemnisation included a astonishment grant for 1 driver, Silvia Neri, whose speedy actions helped support students during an emergency.

The California Highway Patrol attended the lawsuit to admit Neri for her actions connected Sept. 30, 2025.

RELATED: No children injured aft schoolhouse autobus occurrence breaks retired successful Fresno County, CHP says

While transporting 4 peculiar needs students home, Neri heard a large popular and noticed a occurrence had ignited connected her bus. After unsuccessfully attempting to enactment retired the fire, she rapidly evacuated the students, getting everyone to information without injuries.

"Silvia did precisely what we would anticipation each nonrecreational operator would bash - but lone what a calm, trained and courageous idiosyncratic tin bash nether pressure," said CHP Assistant Chief Ian Troxell.

Neri was named the 2025 Bus Driver of the Year for Northern California, an grant fixed to lone 2 drivers statewide each year.

As colleagues applauded, Neri said she was caught disconnected defender by the recognition.

"Was not expecting this. I thought it was over, truthful I was hoping it would conscionable beryllium a normal, regular day," she said.

Despite the honor, Neri said she does not presumption her actions arsenic extraordinary.

"Anyone would person done the aforesaid thing," she said. "I person implicit 100% assurance that anybody would person done the aforesaid thing."

In summation to her effect during the emergency, territory officials said Neri has logged 162,000 accident-free miles arsenic a Clovis Unified autobus driver.

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