Accidents like the one in this story hardly ever happen. A bus is the safest way to get to school.
Courtesy of family
I Saved a Bus Full of Kids!
It was the afternoon of March 17, 2022. I had no idea I was about to have the scariest time of my life.
I had spent the day at Dodge Intermediate School in Twinsburg, Ohio. At the end of the school day, I got on the bus home.
I sat up front, close to the driver. As we drove into my neighborhood, he started coughing. I asked him, “Are you OK?” Then I realized that he had passed out!
The bus slowly went over a curb on the road. It was heading into a pond. The other kids were scared. I was too, but I knew I had to act fast!
I moved the driver’s foot off the pedal. I pressed the brakes myself. My body hit the window. It hurt, but the bus finally came to a stop.
I tried to wake the driver, but he still didn’t move. Luckily, a construction worker was nearby. He came over to help.
Some kids were crying. But fourth-grader DJ Dortch and sixth-grader Kehlynn Gilmer stayed calm. They helped kids safely exit through the back door of the bus.
Phil Masturzo/Beacon Journal/USA TODAY NETWORK/Imagn Content Agency
Sujaan’s family watches proudly as he answers questions for a TV news show.
My family was proud of me! The Twinsburg Board of Education gave awards to DJ, Kehlynn, and me. I was also made mayor of my town for a day.
Best of all, the driver of the bus is now all right. I think he will be back to driving very soon!
