By Michelle Maskaly
Staten Island Advance
Copyright 2007 Advance Publications, Inc.
All Rights Reserved
STATEN ISLAND — A driver drew on his years of EMT experience, quickly evacuating a passenger in a wheelchair when he saw smoke billowing from the front of his yellow school bus - and minutes before it burst into flames yesterday morning in New Dorp.
Bus driver Sal Renna, of Pleasant Plains, said he pulled over the mini-bus at Hylan Boulevard and Allison Avenue, got the passenger out and moved him to a safe spot.
Renna, 58, had picked up the man, in his 60s, at his Forest Hill Road home and was driving him to the New Dorp Beach branch of A Very Special Place, an Island nonprofit dedicated to clients with developmental disabilities.
The 30-year EMS veteran, who retired six years ago, credited his training and years of experience for his quick thinking.
Said Renna, who continued his route in a new van shortly after the incident. “I stayed calm throughout it.”
Reports from the scene described the bus as being completely charred. It is owned and operated by Rimar Transportation, located in the Travis section of Staten Island.
No injuries were reported and the scene was quickly cleared.
In 2005, Rimar was scrutinized by city lawmakers after one of its buses, carrying eight developmentally disabled students, caught fire on Victory Boulevard.
“I just reacted when I saw the smoke and didn’t panic,” said Sal Renna of Pleasant Plains of the rescue.