US man stops school bus after driver falls ill at the wheel

A 27-year-old man in the US state of Minnesota, Ebro Ahmed, stopped a moving school bus on Monday after its driver became ill. The bus carried nearly 20 children, and Ahmed's actions may have helped prevent a tragedy. The incident was captured by surveillance cameras at the store "Ya Bricks Snacks and Tobacco".

How it unfolded

Ahmed was outside the store when he noticed a school bus driving past with its doors wide open. Looking inside, he saw that the driver appeared to be having seizures. He ran to the bus, jumped aboard and activated the emergency brake. The vehicle came to a halt before anything worse happened.

According to Ahmed, the bus was in chaos: some children were screaming, while others tried to stay calm. He singled out two girls seated near the front who helped him cope with the situation. He handed one of them his phone and glasses and asked her to hold them.

Ahmed's account

In an interview with the US television network ABC News, he said he felt it was his duty to act because children were involved, and that even if he had died, it would have been worth it. He also said that watching the medical drama "Grey's Anatomy" helped him, as he believes it teaches viewers how to act in unfamiliar situations.

Aftermath

St. Paul Public Schools confirmed to ABC News that a medical emergency occurred on the bus and that medics came to the scene. No one was injured. The children were moved to another bus and taken home, and the next day school staff contacted students to check on their emotional well-being. The driver was later discharged from hospital and is recovering at home, a district spokesperson said.