Reading view

Minnesota Man Stops Runaway School Bus After Driver Suffers Medical Emergency

By: Merari Acevedo

21 October 2026 at 20:22

A 27-year-old Minnesota man is being credited with stopping a runaway school bus carrying nearly 20 children after the driver suffered a medical emergency, reported ABC News.

Ebro Ahmed told local news reporters that he was standing outside Ya Bricks Snacks and Tobacco on Monday, when he noticed a school bus traveling past the convenience store with its door wide open.

After looking inside, Ahmed said he saw the driver experiencing what appeared to be a seizure. He immediately ran toward the runaway school bus, jumped aboard and pulled the emergency brake, stopping the vehicle before it could crash.

“I really felt like it was my duty,” Ahmed said. “Also, too, it’s kids we’re talking about, you know. Even if I were to die, it would still be worth it.”

Surveillance video released by the convenience store captured Ahmed running alongside the bus before climbing aboard. The footage also showed the bus coming to a stop shortly afterward.

Ahmed said some of the students were screaming while others remained calm during the incident. He credited two girls seated near the front of the bus with helping him manage the situation.

“These two girls on the front really did help me a lot,” Ahmed said. “I threw my phone and my glasses at one of them, and I told her to hold it.”

Ahmed also said the long-running television medical drama “Grey’s Anatomy” helped him remain composed during the emergency. He said the program offers lessons about how to react in unexpected situations.

Saint Paul Public Schools confirmed via the news report that a medical emergency occurred aboard one of its buses, and that paramedics responded to the scene. The district did not disclose additional information about the driver’s condition.

No injuries were reported among the students or others involved, according to the district.

Students aboard the runaway school bus were transferred to another vehicle and taken home following the incident. Counselors also checked in with the students Tuesday to offer support after the frightening experience.

The district did not immediately provide further details about the bus route, the school the students attended, or how far the vehicle traveled before Ahmed stopped it.

Written with the assistance of AI.

The post Minnesota Man Stops Runaway School Bus After Driver Suffers Medical Emergency appeared first on School Transportation News.

South Dakota School Bus Driver Dies After Medical Emergency

School Transportation News

By: Merari Acevedo

31 August 2026 at 22:10

A Mount Vernon School District bus driver died after suffering a medical emergency at a student pickup location in Mitchell, South Dakota.

Dean Deinert, 66, died Aug. 26 after experiencing the medical emergency at the Davison County Fairgrounds, also known as the 4-H grounds. According to his obituary, Deinert died unexpectedly from a heart attack.

Davison County Sheriff Steve Harr told School Transportation News that a call came in at approximately 7:29 a.m. reporting that a bus driver was unconscious and not breathing well.

Mitchell Emergency Medical Services, the Mitchell Police Department and the Davison County Sheriff’s Office responded to the fairgrounds, which serves as a Mount Vernon School District pickup point for students from Mitchell.

An off-duty nurse performed lifesaving measures at the scene until paramedics arrived, Harr said. Deinert was transported by ambulance to Queen of Peace Hospital in Mitchell, where he later died.

Harr added that there was nothing suspicious about the incident.

The school district initially informed families that morning of the incident. The district said all students were safe, and another driver was able to take over the bus and transport them to school.

Counselors were also made available at school for anyone who needed support.

Following Deinert’s death, the district sent age-specific resources home with students who rode the Mitchell bus. The materials provided guidance for families on discussing the medical emergency with children, recognizing possible emotional and behavioral reactions, and determining when additional support might be necessary.

The guides indicated that students witnessed the emergency and sought help from adults. They emphasized that the children acted appropriately by getting adults, who performed CPR.

The district later shared the resources on social media, saying they could also be helpful for students who did not ride the bus that evening.

School Transportation News reached out to the Mount Vernon School District for additional information but did not receive a response as of this writing.

Deinert had only recently started driving a school bus at the beginning of the school year, according to his obituary. A lifelong resident of Mount Vernon community, he graduated from Mount Vernon High School in 1978.

He spent 38 years as an over-the-road truck driver before beginning work at the Mount Vernon Farmers Elevator in 2017. Deinert continued working there until his death and had planned to retire Nov. 1.

The obituary described Deinert as a familiar and well-known member of the Mount Vernon community who was devoted to his family, especially his seven grandchildren.

Deinert is survived by his wife, Donna; his children and stepchildren; his mother; six brothers; seven grandchildren; and other relatives.

The district announced that the Tom Young Community Center would be closed Aug. 29 and Aug. 30 for preparations and services honoring Deinert.

A celebration of his life was held Aug. 30 at the community center, with a private burial planned for a later date at Emsley Cemetery in Ethan, South Dakota.

The post South Dakota School Bus Driver Dies After Medical Emergency appeared first on School Transportation News.