A THIRTEEN-year-old girl saved the lives of two fellow pupils as a school bus veered across a dual carriageway after the driver collapsed.
Caroline Price dashed from her seat at the rear of the 20-seater minibus to grab the steering wheel and bring the vehicle back under control. Adwick School, Doncaster. She will receive a police bravery award today for her quick thinking and actions in averting a tragedy.
The incident happened as Caroline and the two other children were making their regular journey home from Adwick Comprehensive School, Doncaster, South Yorks, in May. Stephen Williams, the driver, collapsed at the wheel while they were approaching her home village of Skelbrooke and the bus lurched into the central reservation of the Great North Road.
As he fell from his seat, the bus careered into the metal safety barrier at 30-40mph. Caroline grabbed the steering wheel and within 50 yards manoeuvred the vehicle back on to the carriageway and then the hard shoulder before it crashed into a bus stop. Caroline jumped from the vehicle and flagged down a passing motorist and asked him to call for help on his mobile telephone.
She said: "I wasn't frightened - I didn't have time to think about that - but we were all a bit shocked and shaken up afterwards. I have no idea how to drive a bus and I couldn't reach the brakes anyway, so I just did the best I could. My pals thought I had done a really good job, but I am surprised I am getting an award. I didn't think I had done that much, really. The road was quite busy at the time and I just hoped for the best. Luckily it turned out all right."
Mr Williams, 56, has since made a full recovery. Caroline will receive her police bravery award from Douglas Brand, Assistant Chief Constable of South Yorkshire. Insp. Ian Walker said: "Caroline's lightning reactions certainly prevented a more serious accident. This is a very busy road and she only had seconds to react." |
