A group of middle school students in Mississippi are being praised for their quick thinking after they managed to bring a school bus to safety when their driver suddenly lost consciousness on a four-lane highway.
The incident happened shortly after the bus departed Hancock Middle School in Hancock County with around 40 students on board. The driver, identified as 46-year-old Leah Taylor, reportedly suffered an asthma attack and attempted to reach for her medication before blacking out.
As the bus began to swerve, 12-year-old sixth grader Jackson Casnave, who was seated directly behind the driver, quickly noticed something was wrong. He immediately moved to take control of the steering and instructed classmates to call for help.
“I didn’t have time to process my emotions. I just wanted to make sure that nobody got hurt,” he said.
Another student, 12-year-old Darrius Clark, rushed forward and applied the brakes, while both boys worked together to guide the bus onto a median and safely bring it to a stop.
Clark’s 13-year-old sister, Kayleigh, ran to the front of the bus and called emergency services, although she said it was difficult to hear the dispatcher due to panic among the students.
Other students also stepped in to assist. Fifteen-year-old Destiny Cornelius helped administer medication from a nebuliser found in the driver’s possession, while 13-year-old McKenzy Finch supported the driver and coordinated communication with school transport officials using her phone.
Taylor later recovered fully and expressed gratitude towards the students, saying they had saved both her life and the lives of everyone on board.
Principal Dr Melissa Saucier praised the group, saying their actions demonstrated exceptional courage and maturity. The students have since been honoured at a school pep rally and will be rewarded with a celebratory lunch outing of their choice.
