Teen helps bus driver who collapses at the wheel

Jesse Hermanson and an aide are on the bus when driver Lee Plante loses consciousness while making a U-turn, sending the bus through a brick wall and into a backyard. The teen says he saw Plante halfway out the bus doors, and his thought was to “call 911 and release the emergency switch because the doors kept pinching him.”

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January 31, 2014

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GLENDALE, Ariz. — A 14-year-old student was praised for his efforts to help his school bus driver when he collapsed behind the wheel and later died, according to a story on azfamily.com.

On Jan. 22, driver Lee Plante became unconscious and collapsed behind the wheel as he tried to make a U-turn with student Jesse Hermanson and an aide on board. The bus ultimately crashed through a wall and into a backyard.

Hermanson told the news outlet that he saw Plante halfway out the bus doors. “My quick thought was [to] call 911 and release the emergency switch because the doors kept pinching him," the teen said.

Greg Plante, Lee Plante’s son, told the news outlet that Hermanson was brave and did everything he could have done.

To read the full story, click here.

Other news related to school bus drivers and medical episodes:

• Bus driver's medical episode prompts safety training

• Teen safely stops bus after driver suffers heart attack

Topics:Arizona emergency planning school bus crash Management Safety

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