11-Year-Old Saves Classmates in School Bus Crash

Last week, a school bus full of children started rolling down a hill, straight into oncoming traffic. But everything turned out okay - thanks to one brave 11-year-old.

By Kathryn Hawkins. Posted on April 12 2008

Last Monday, a school bus driver from Cleveland made a quick stop to use the bathroom in a gas station while on the way to school. But the bus didn’t stop with him: Moments after the driver exited, the bus began to roll down the hill, with 27 young students on board. It was headed straight into oncoming traffic.

But luckily, an 11-year-old passenger, David Murphy, sprung into action and grabbed the steering wheel to direct the bus out of harm’s way. He couldn’t stop the bus’ momentum down a steep hill, but, instead of heading towards oncoming cars, he maneuvered the vehicle towards a pillar that held up a bridge, where it came to a jerking halt, rolling neatly into place by the side of the freeway.

When David’s mother, Patricia, learned what her son had done, “I was amazed. I was in shock. The way the bus looked and when I seen the position of the bus, it seemed like it was parked,” she told Good Morning, America. “I couldn’t believe that he had that strength and that direction.”

David’s keeping pretty quiet about the incident, but he’s the only one. “David is absolutely the most modest hero I’ve ever met, but [if not] for his actions, that bus would have went right down into the river,” said Brian Seltz, the family’s lawyer and close friend. “He saved all of those children’s lives.”

Filed under: Heroes,

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