Middle schoolers stop runaway bus after driver passes out behind the wheel

HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss. (WLOX/Gray News) – Five Mississippi middle school students worked together to stop their runaway bus and call for help after the driver passed out behind the wheel.

A group of Hancock Middle School students made split-second decisions Wednesday afternoon that bus driver Leah Taylor says saved her life.

“I had a medical emergency, and the students stepped up when I passed out driving the bus,” Taylor said.

Students acted on instinct

McKenzy Finch, a sixth-grader, says Taylor fell over suddenly.

“She kind of fell over, like flopped over, and everyone started standing up,” McKenzy said.

She and her fellow students came together and worked effortlessly as a team when seconds mattered. One steered, one hit the air brake, one called 911, one called the school district and one administered medicine to Taylor.

Jackson Casnave, a sixth-grader, is the student who grabbed the wheel.

“I saw that the bus was veering off to the side. Then, I grabbed the wheel,” he said. “It was just adrenaline pumping.”

Darrius Clark, also a sixth-grader, hit the brakes as the bus started gaining speed.

“So, she passed out again, and then, the bus started rolling forward. It started gaining speed,” Darrius said. “I didn’t know it had air brakes, so when I clicked the brakes, it about threw me out the windshield.”

Meanwhile, Kayleigh Clark, an eighth-grader, called 911, and Destiny Cornelius, also an eighth-grader, administered medicine to Taylor.

“I saw her medication in her hand, and I saw her reaching for it. I knew that’s what she needed,” Destiny said.

Students celebrated for their bravery

Hancock County School District leaders say the students worked together as a team until first responders arrived.

Dr. Melissa Saucier, the Hancock Middle School principal, says the students handled the emergency correctly.

“I’m not surprised to hear that our kids remained calm and acted swiftly,” Saucier said. “This emergency situation could have definitely been detrimental. They handled it exactly how they should have, and we’re extremely proud of them.”

Taylor says she is now back to normal, feeling better and very grateful.

“I’m very proud of them. I couldn’t ask for any better students than my students on my bus. I love every single one of them,” Taylor said. “I’m gonna think of how they saved my life.”

The students were later recognized for their actions at a school pep rally.

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