Missouri Students Recognized for School Bus Heroics
Tandon Baker and Emilee Williams, students in the St. James R-1 School District, spring to action after their school bus driver passes out.
Missouri Gov. Mike Parson issued proclamations honoring Emilee Williams (left) and Tandon Baker for their heroic actions.
Photo courtesy of St. James Schools
Two quick-thinking Missouri students earned praise last week for their actions aboard their school bus when the driver lost consciousness.
It was about 3:30 p.m. Aug. 25 on a road outside St. James when the bus, carrying about 25 students, went off the road and through a fence into a field, according to St. James R-1 School District Superintendent Tim Webster.
Tandon Baker, a 12-year-old middle school student, rushed to the front of the bus, put his foot on the brake, and parked the bus.
High school student Emilee Williams, 15, called 911 on her cellphone, then worked to calm younger, frightened students aboard the bus.
“Honestly, I do not know that I could be more proud of the way that these two reacted last Wednesday,” Webster said. “I know it sounds very cliché, but I have been telling anyone and everyone that asks me that they are the definition of a hero.”
VIDEO: Virginia Conference Highlights Bus Crash Response
He said other students should look to them as examples of “being aware of what is going on around you and just reacting.”
Tandon and Emilee were honored Friday night before a high school football game with proclamations from Missouri Gov. Mike Parson.
The bus driver remained hospitalized this week.
More Safety
How to Build a Better School Bus Driver Training Program
Is it time to strengthen your driver training? Here’s how to pick the right talent and improve recruitment, retention, and safety. This video is brought to you by IC Bus.
Read More →
Recent School Bus Accidents Leave 2 Dead, 2 Injured
Four school bus crashes in Florida, Illinois, and Georgia highlight risks in transportation lots, at bus stops, and during student loading and unloading.
Read More →
When Every Second Matters, Clarity Keeps Routes Moving
From routine delays to urgent incidents, strong communication practices help drivers, dispatchers, schools, and families respond with confidence.
Read More →
What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help
School bus fires are rare but can be devastating. Learn how advances in fire suppression and asset protection help fleets detect fires earlier, reduce damage, and improve safety.
Read More →
Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents
Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.
Read More →
Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest
Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.
Read More →
Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty
With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.
Read More →
Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System
The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.
Read More →
How To Build a More Secure School Bus Yard During and After Hours
As thefts and overnight security threats continue, school transportation leaders are combining stronger operational practices with AI-enabled surveillance to better protect buses, facilities, and staff.
Read More →
FMCSA Names New Chief Safety Officer: What School Bus Operators Should Know
Steve Dowling is set to lead the federal agency's efforts to advance commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the nation's roadways.
Read More →