Driver Rescues Students From School Bus Before it Catches Fire

Bernadine Reed of South Carolina is able to safely evacuate 40 students from the bus after it was involved in a crash and before it caught fire.

Sadiah Thompson・Assistant Editor

January 24, 2019

Driver Rescues Students From School Bus Before it Catches Fire — A bus from Darlington County (S.C.) School District was stopped at railroad tracks when a Buick struck the bus from behind and caught fire, spreading flames to the bus. Photo courtesy Palmetto Rural Fire Department and Medical Transport

2 min to read

A bus from Darlington County (S.C.) School District was stopped at railroad tracks when a Buick struck the bus from behind and caught fire, spreading flames to the bus. Photo courtesy Palmetto Rural Fire Department and Medical Transport

DARLINGTON COUNTY, S.C. — A school bus driver and dozens of students were able to safely evacuate from their bus after it was involved in a crash and before it caught fire, authorities said.

Corporal Sonny Collins from the South Carolina Highway Patrol told WMBF that at around 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday the bus was stopped at railroad tracks when a Buick struck the bus from behind and caught fire, spreading flames to the bus. Collins added that the driver of the car was taken to a nearby hospital.

Darlington County School District said in a Facebook post that the bus was traveling along McIver Road while transporting 34 students to Brunson-Dargan and Cain Elementary schools (Officials later reported on Wednesday that there were 40 students on board). Emergency responders were called to the scene, everyone was checked out after getting off the bus, and no injuries were reported. The district also noted that parents of the students on the bus were notified immediately following the crash.

On Wednesday, Darlington County School District held a press conference to honor bus driver Bernadine Reed for her quick actions, ensuring the safety of students.

“Ms. Reed is one of our faithful employees that are out there caring for kids, and most importantly doing their job because they care about kids,” Dr. Tim Newman, the superintendent of Darlington County School District, said at the press conference.

Bus driver Bernadine Reed resumed her normal routes on a replacement bus after rescuing students from another bus that was involved in a crash and before it caught fire. Photo courtesy Darlington County (S.C.) School District

Reed, who has only been employed with the district for 45 days, recalled her experiences rescuing the students, and said that she was first made aware of the smoke on the bus by a student on board.

“A little girl from the back of the bus came up to me and said 'it's smoking,'" Reed said at the press conference.

Reed added that her only thought at the time was getting all of the students off the bus, and that she doesn't consider herself a “hero" for her actions, but rather a “mother that got 40 kids off a bus to safety.”

After the incident, Reed resumed driving her normal routes with a new replacement bus, according to the district.

Topics:school bus crash South Carolina Safety

More Safety

A close up detail of the back of a school bus with text reading "Insight From 10 Years of NHTSA Data."

Safety•by Elora Haynes•July 22, 2026

NHTSA Releases 10-Year Review of Fatal School Bus Crashes

The latest federal analysis reinforces the safety of school buses while identifying where school-age pedestrians and other motorists remain most at risk.

Safety•by Amanda Huggett•July 21, 2026

2026 NASDPTS Survey: Data Shows Further Reduction of Illegal Passing

New data is in! School bus stop-arm passings are down to 38.4 million violations per year, about a 2.3% decrease from last school year — but passings on the right side of the bus are higher than ever.

Safety•by Staff and News Reports•July 9, 2026

Another School Bus Fatality Reported in Monsey, New York

A 7-year-old girl died after being struck by a school bus in Rockland County, New York while crossing the street. Here's what we know.

School buses at NSTA's SBDISC Roadeo with text reading "School Bus Drivers Put Their Skills to the Test."

Safety•by Staff and News Reports•June 30, 2026

NSTA Announces 2026 School Bus Driver International Safety Competition Winners

Drivers from across the U.S. and Canada showcased their safety and driving skills, with two defending champions successfully retaining their titles.

The Driver Shortage Playbook

Driver shortages are still a major challenge for student transportation fleets, but the real issue has shifted. It’s no longer just about filling seats quickly. It’s about finding safe, reliable drivers who meet performance expectations and want to stay. The Driver Shortage Playbook covers why traditional recruitment tactics are falling short and how school fleets are adapting with smarter hiring, stronger retention strategies and a greater focus on driver quality.