Riverhead School Board Honor Police Officer Who Rescued Two People From Bus Fire

Riverhead School Board officials recently honored New York City Police Officer Christopher Canale for his “selfless act of bravery“ when he rescued two people from a bus that caught on fire after an accident on the Long Island Expressway earlier this month at a recent Board of Education meeting.

Canale saved a Riverhead Central School District bus driver and bus monitor from a mini bus, which caught on fire, on Oct. 8.

Officer Canale, who was off duty, stopped and first pulled the monitor, Grace Robertson, from the bus and then was able to dislodge the driver, whose leg was caught in the wreckage.

There were no students on the bus.

Board of Education President Susan Koukounas, reading from a Proclamation presented to Canale, stated, “Without the heroic actions of Officer Canale, the driver and monitor would have certainly suffered more serious injury or possibly death.”

Canale’s family as well as Robertson and her family were present the presentation, during which the district presented Canale with a plaque.

The bus driver is recovering at home and was unable to attend the Board meeting.