Police in Edison, New Jersey, hailed a school bus driver as a hero after she seemingly saved a group of children onboard. The unidentified driver was taking 28 students to John Adams Middle School when her bus' brakes malfunctioned. Unable to stop the school bus, the driver plowed through a neighborhood and into a home. The bus continued moving before stopping in a nearby field.
Miraculously, everyone survived the crazy ordeal, and only two children received minor injuries. Her quick thinking and fantastic driving skills may have prevented a tragedy.
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Everything seemed normal on Wednesday morning.
PIX 11 and other news sources reported that the crash happened at about 8 a.m. on Wednesday in Edison Township near the intersection of Ziga and Rahway. The driver reportedly tried to stop the bus at a stop sign, but the brakes seemed to malfunction, according to PIX 11. Unable to stop the bus, the driver began maneuvering it carefully as it continued to speed along.
The bus appeared to have a mind of its own.
Surveillance video showed the bus barreling through a fence before hitting the garage of a nearby home and finally slowing before stopping in nearby grass. The footage is pretty scary. Thankfully, no one was gravely injured during the crash.
Police were amazed by the driver's quick thinking.
Edison Police Chief Thomas Bryan said the driver should be called a "hero." Her impressive driving skills undoubtedly saved not only the lives of the 28 middle schoolers onboard but also likely herself. Officer Evan McNamara said the accident could have been "a lot worse," and that what the driver did was truly incredible.
Aside from two students with minor injuries, the kids were all OK.
Although the kids were shaken up by the accident, school officials told PIX 11 the students were resilient and happily back in school. The police department brought its therapy dog, Tybee, to help put their minds at ease. Sergeant Melissa Michalak said the kids were "so incredible."
There were reportedly three people in the home at the time of the crash, but none was injured.
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The bus was towed and sent for inspection.
The school district contracts some of its buses from Joy Transportation Company. According to CBS New York, the company did not want to comment on the situation, but police said the Department of Transportation will investigate the incident.
A message on the Edison Township School District's website reads as follows:
“We are immensely grateful that there were no severe injuries. We express our heartfelt thanks to our building principal, Dr. Joan Valentine, and her dedicated staff, for their prompt support and care for the students. In addition to school-based crisis counseling, the involved students were afforded the opportunity to visit with Tybbe, a certified therapy dog and his handler, Sergeant Michalak. Dr. Valentine will continue to have counselors available over the next several days to provide support to any child in need.”
