Students thought their school bus was just moving forward again, until they realized their driver had a medical emergency

It was a regular ride back home when the school bus began to move unexpectedly instead of coming to a full halt. Two Pennsylvania high school students, who saved their bus from crashing when they realized their bus driver was going through a medical emergency,  spoke out to ABC News.

There could have been serious consequences if the two high school female students had not reacted when they did. Following the incident, the Hollidaysburg Area School District made a public post on Facebook thanking the students for their ‘quick thinking and courage.’

“We as a district are so proud of the quick actions of our students to help avoid what could have been a serious accident,” said Superintendent Curtis Whitesel. The resiliency of America’s youth was on display as they sprung into action and saved the day. We are extremely proud of all of our students,” she added.

The timely reaction saved the bus from crashing

In a surveillance video released by the Hollidaysburg Area School District and posted on TikTok, a few students can be seen getting off the bus as it slows down, then starts moving again. This keeps the students from leaving the bus safely. Two students stop at the door and notice that something is wrong with the bus driver, as he had his head limp over the steering wheel.

Alexis Smith, a sophomore, was one of the students alerted by her friend and immediately moved to control the bus. “I immediately jumped into action and helped the bus driver as much as I could,” she said. “During the time I stepped on the brake, I hit like, a metal pole.”

Skyla Horton, another student who was supposed to get off the bus at the stop, said she tried to pull the parking brake as Smith tackled the brake pedal. “I pulled the parking brake and then I opened the bus door for more airflow for the bus driver,” Horton said. The fast thinking made sure the students could stop the bus before it could crash or flip onto its roof, which would have been much worse.

Following the rush, other students radioed for help and checked the driver’s pulse. They took control over the situation until the medical respondents arrived on the scene. “He is my regular bus driver. Now, like when I go to the bus, he’ll make like, a little joke — ‘Our hero,'” Smith said.