Driver safely stops bus after plywood shatters windshield
As Neil Reichenbach is traveling west in his bus on a highway and meets a truck traveling east, he says the plywood “flew off.” It strikes the bus, and the windshield wraps around Reichenbach, who manages to get to the side of the road.
WAYLAND, Iowa — A school bus driver is being hailed as a hero for safely stopping his bus after a piece of plywood struck the vehicle, shattering the windshield, The Hawk Eye reports.
Neil Reichenbach was transporting high school football players to their playoff game when the incident occurred. The bus was traveling west on a highway, and a truck was traveling east. Reichenbach told the news source that when the vehicles met, the plywood “flew off.” According to The Hawk Eye, the plywood struck the bus on the right side, and Reichenbach said that the windshield wrapped around him and hit his elbow as he was driving.
Pat Coen, superintendent of Waco Community Schools, called Reichenbach a “hero,” saying that as the windshield was caving around him, he was able to get to the side of the road without wrecking the bus.
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