An eighth-grader in Wisconsin takes control of their school bus when the driver becomes unconscious.
One afternoon, Acie Holland followed his normal routine and climbed aboard the school bus to head home. The bus driver, in high spirits, cracked jokes with the students before popping in her headphones.
Just then, everything changed.
As Holland sat in a spot near the back of the bus, he noticed the bus driver seemed a bit under the weather or exhausted. When she continued to press the gas pedal and missed a turn, he knew something was amiss.
"She turned the corner and there's another street that we usually turn on. She pressed the gas and went past the corner, and I looked up," Acie told CNN.
Quickly, Acie made his way to the front of the bus to check on her. However, she didn't respond. The driver had lost consciousness, and the bus was veering into oncoming traffic. Acie hurried to move her foot off of the gas and hit the brakes to safely stop the bus.
"I wasn't really scared, I was just trying to get the bus to stop," he said.
After putting the bus to a halt, Acie called 911 and his grandmother, who was a nurse's assistant. He also directed the 13-15 students on board to phone their families.
"Everybody was just like, 'thank you' because I saved their life," said Acie, aspiring to operate a barber shop or mechanic shop one day.
Glen Hills Middle School Principal Anna Young expressed her admiration for Acie's heroism in a note to families, saying, "The community could not be any prouder of Acie." She added, "we are grateful that all of our Glen Hills students are safe and are wishing their driver a healthy recovery."
Later on, the driver returned to consciousness and rang up Riteway, the bus company, which sent another driver to transport the children home securely.
The school principal stated that the driver had encountered a medical emergency and was receiving medical treatment.
Acie's parents are bursting with pride and relief. At first, his father, Acie Holland II, doubted him when he heard about the episode later that day.
"Dad, I saved the school bus from crashing," he confided in him. Initially, the story took his breath away, but ultimately, the father was unsurprised.
"He's always been a person where he's real quick on his feet. That's one of my things that I know he's capable of, not on the school bus, but just in general, being able to help someone in need," said Acie's father. "But I am proud of what he did."
The townspeople have continued to shower Acie with admiration since the incident. At a recent school board meeting, Acie was lauded through a proclamation from the mayor and city council. The Glendale Police Department and the Milwaukee Fire Department also commended his bravery.
Acie has previous experience dealing with vehicles, as he's been working alongside his father, a certified auto technician, since he was young.
"It was like he was in the right place at the right time. So, it was, it was meant to be for a variety of reasons, the most important being for the safety of others," said Young.
Acie’s praises continue to roll in, and he feels more self-assured as a result. “I feel more confident with having a fight or flight moment,” he shared.
Following his quick reflexes and courageous decision-making, Acie not only saved his peers but also received recognition for his heroic act.
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Source: edition.cnn.com
