Stewart O'Leary, a dedicated bus driver from Washington State, faced a life-threatening incident while driving a school bus on Interstate 405. On a seemingly ordinary Friday, a piece of metal tore through the windshield of the bus traveling at over 60 mph, striking O'Leary in the chest. The sudden impact left him with severe pain and injury, yet he managed to maintain control of the vehicle.
The quick-thinking actions of coaches Chris Pinder and Calvin McHenry played a crucial role in ensuring the safety of all aboard. As soon as the metal struck, Pinder instructed O'Leary to take immediate action.
"OK, hit the breaks, hit the breaks. Get the flashers on and hit the breaks." – Coach Chris Pinder
McHenry stepped up to assist as O'Leary struggled with the unexpected blow.
"I grabbed the wheel 'cause he was grabbing his heart, his chest a little bit." – Coach Calvin McHenry
O'Leary's calm demeanor under pressure allowed him to steer the bus safely to the highway's shoulder, averting potential disaster. Emergency services quickly arrived on the scene, and O'Leary was taken to a local hospital for treatment of a serious bruise and cuts from flying glass shards. The cracked windshield now serves as a testament to the incident, displayed at the school district's bus office.
O'Leary expressed relief that no passengers were harmed during the ordeal.
"I'm glad it was me, not them, any of my passengers." – Stewart O'Leary
He emphasized his commitment to his duty as a bus driver.
"I kept the girls safe. That's what the job of a bus driver is — transporting students safely — and I did that." – Stewart O'Leary
Coach Pinder's swift call for assistance underscored the gravity of the situation, requesting "fire and medical" services. The piece of metal that caused the incident now serves as a personal memento for O'Leary, who returned to work less than a week later, demonstrating remarkable resilience.
"It's just remarkable that he was able to keep the bus going straight after such a sudden event occurring. So a really, really great guy." – Coach Chris Pinder
