I Saved a Bus Full of Kids!

March 17 started out like most other school days in fifth grade. I had no idea it would end in one of the scariest situations in my life.  

I’m a student at George G. Dodge Intermediate School in Twinsburg, Ohio. I live in the next city, Reminderville, so I usually take the bus to school. At the end of the day, the bell rang and I got on the bus for the ride home.

I sat in the front seat, close to the driver. During the trip, he started coughing. As we got closer to my house, he was coughing even more. I asked, “Are you OK?” But he didn’t answer. That’s when I realized he had passed out!

I knew I had to do something or everyone on the bus was going to be in big trouble.

The bus slowly rolled over a curb on the road. I was terrified, but I knew I had to act fast. I jumped up and moved the driver’s foot off the gas pedal. I hit the brakes, and the bus came to a stop just before it would’ve crashed into a streetlight. My head had hit the windshield, but I wasn’t injured. Thankfully, neither were any of the other passengers.

A construction worker saw everything that happened. He rushed over to help. Some of the students were panicking and crying, but fourth-grader DJ Dortch and sixth-grader Kehlynn Gilmer stayed calm. They helped the other students safely exit the bus through the back door.

Emergency responders arrived and took the driver to the hospital. Fortunately, he recovered.

The Twinsburg Board of Education gave awards to DJ, Kehlynn, and me. I was also named mayor of my city for a day. 

Some people have called me a hero. But I just did what anyone should: I stepped up when I saw someone needed help.