Renton bus driver acts quick to help students during dog attack

Driver Susan Anderegg pulls two children onto bus away from pit bull

Renton School District bus driver Susan Anderegg’s fast thinking might have saved the life of two Lakeridge Elementary School students who were attacked by a pit bull as they walked home from school on Wednesday.

The 3rd- and 4th- grade students were walking at about 3:15 p.m. along 74th Ave S in Skyway when a pit bull pulled loose from its owner and attacked the children. As they fought off the attack, the children ran into the street away from the dog.

Anderegg, a five-year bus-driving veteran, immediately stopped her bus, flipped on the flashing lights and set the stop paddle while calling dispatch on her radio for police and aid units to respond to the attack.

Anderegg saw the dog bite down on one of the girls and drag her to the ground. Anderegg jumped from her bus and began calling to the girls to run to the bus. The dog’s owners were fighting to gain control of the dog, but were unsuccessful and the dog broke free and again attacked the girls.

“The girls were so small,” said Anderegg, “and the dog was so big, that when it jumped up on its hind legs, it was looking the girls right in the eyes.”

Anderegg got control of the girls and hurried them onto the bus. She again called dispatch to relay the condition of the girls who were bleeding, frightened and crying. Anderegg could see by the wounds that they needed medical attention.

“These little girls were so brave,” Anderegg said. “One was even able to tell me her home phone number so we could contact her mom.”

Paramedics quickly arrived on the scene and began treating the girls. One was treated and released; the other had more severe wounds and was transported to Harborview Medical Center for treatment. She received 28 stitches on her arm. Both girls are in good spirits on Thursday and even asked to attend their school’s concert that night.

Anderegg said she remains troubled by the incident, but showed up for work on Thursday to drive two bus routes.

The dog is now in quarantine at the county's animal control shelter in Kent. Its fate is uncertain, although it could be euthanized. The investigation is continuing.