Celina bus driver credited with quick action after student found unconscious in driveway

CELINA — Brooke Gessler, superintendent of Celina City Schools, is praising the quick thinking of a district bus driver who discovered a student lying unconscious in a driveway during a morning route.

Speaking on Spectrum, Gessler said driver Dan Nixon was making his usual stops when he noticed something unusual. A high school student who typically waits at the end of the lane was not there.

Nixon paused and looked more closely from the bus, noticing what appeared to be someone lying in the driveway. He placed the bus in park, informed his aide of the situation and went to check.

“It’s a good thing he did,” Gessler said, explaining the student was lying in the lane and appeared to be unconscious.

Nixon immediately radioed for help. Transportation supervisor Greg Amspaugh, who was nearby on another route, responded to the call. Amspaugh took the students who were on Nixon’s bus so Nixon could remain with the student until emergency personnel arrived.

Gessler said the driver trusted his instincts when something “just felt off,” and that decision may have prevented a much more serious outcome, especially given the cold morning temperatures.

She said she had not yet received an update on the student’s condition but expressed hope that all would end well. Gessler added she is proud of the district’s transportation staff and said Nixon’s actions reflect the dedication of employees across the district.