Students React Heroically During Bus Emergency
Picture this: you’re on a bus, and suddenly the driver passes out. It’s a terrifying thought, right? Now, envision this happening on a school bus filled with middle school kids, and the only adult is slumped over the wheel.
That’s exactly what unfolded recently in Mississippi on a school bus, as reported by WLOX-TV.
The driver, Leah Taylor, was transporting students from Hancock Junior High School when she unexpectedly lost consciousness on April 22nd. The situation was captured by the bus’s onboard surveillance camera.
Sixth-grader Mackenzie Finch described the moment: “She just kind of flipped over, and everyone got back up.” It’s incredible how these students sprang into action.
Jackson Kasunabe, another sixth-grader, managed to take control of the steering wheel. “I saw the bus veer off to the side, and then I grabbed the steering wheel,” he recalled, adding, “It was just adrenaline.” Darius Clark, also in sixth grade, quickly hit the brakes as the bus began to speed up.
“So she passed out again, and then the bus started moving forward, and I mean, it started picking up speed,” Darius explained. “I didn’t know it had air brakes, so every time I hit the brakes I almost got thrown through the windshield.”
Meanwhile, eighth-grader Kaylee Clark called 911, while her classmate Destiny Cornelius provided the bus driver with necessary medication. “I saw she had medicine in her hand, and I knew that’s what she needed,” Destiny told WLOX.
Eventually, after much shouting and teamwork, the bus came to a halt, and the students gathered around Taylor to help.
Melissa Saucier, the principal at Hancock Middle School, praised the students for their composure in a crisis. “I’m not surprised to hear that the kids stayed calm and acted quickly,” she said, expressing pride in their actions.
Afterwards, the students were recognized for their bravery at a pep rally.
As for Leah Taylor, she is recovering and is full of gratitude for her young passengers. “I’m so proud of them,” she shared. “There are no better students than the ones on the bus. I love all of them. I’m going to think about how they saved my life.”
