Driver Collapses Whilst Driving School Bus - So Quick Thinking Students Jump To The Front

Dec 12, 2018 by apost team

Heroes can come in many shapes and sizes. That’s what a small town found out after a local school bus driver collapsed at the wheel with five students aboard.

In small-town Atkinson, New Hampshire five young passengers found themselves in a panic-stricken situation. While on their way home December sixth, the bus driver collapsed, leaving the students in a bus with no driver. The bus was still moving!

Two of the students managed to react quickly enough to save lives and keep panic down. Nolan Berry and Thomas Mackeen realized what was going on in time and took action immediately, according to the Atkinson Police Department. Nolan, a third-grader, rushed forward for the emergency brake of the bus, to keep the bus from continuing forward and potentially careening out of control.

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Thomas, a fourth-grade student, managed to keep his fellow bus-mates calm during the stressful situation. Thankfully, the bus wasn’t traveling down a main road or on a hill and the bus managed to coast to a stop.

“Nolan began pressing buttons on the driver’s dash because the bus was still rolling forward, when the bus finally came to a stop, they couldn’t get the door to open to let them out.” Said Police Chief Timothy Crowley to WMUR.

Jesse Silva, a father waiting for his son just down the street, watched as the bus moved forward, paused, and then came forward again before gliding to a stop. “It came to a stop. It just stopped there and crept forward, and finally came to a complete stop.” He said.

He imagined that the driver was dealing with some form of mischief from the students on board, but when one of the boys began beating on a window and screaming for help, he leapt into action. Jesse Silva managed to get the emergency door open and saw the driver slumped over in her seat.

“She wasn’t able to explain exactly what happened, so some type of medical issue.”

Crowley later explained. The driver was rushed to a nearby hospital. First Student, the company of the driver, insisted she wouldn’t be driving without medical clearance from a doctor.

“Thank God it happened where I was, there’s plenty of places it could’ve happened, and gone a lot worse,” Silva said. 

That’s what he mentioned to the kids, though they were understandably scared, it happened in the best place possible. The Principal of the elementary school came and collected the children, taking them back to the school so that their parents would be able to pick them up.

The Chief of Police believes the boys deserve a commendation. They kept a level head in a crisis situation. Tell us what you think about this incredible story? Let’s spread the word about these two young heroes.