Key Takeaways
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Ebro Ahmed leaped onto a moving school bus after noticing the driver suffering a medical emergency.
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He successfully stopped the bus by shifting it into neutral and engaging the parking brake.
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All 18 students on board were unharmed, and the driver was treated and released from the hospital.
Quick-thinking bystander halts runaway bus in St. Paul
When Ebro Ahmed stepped outside a convenience store in the Dayton’s Bluff neighborhood of St. Paul, Minnesota, he immediately realized something was critically wrong. A yellow school bus carrying students home in the afternoon was rolling down the street with its doors open, and the driver appeared to be suffering from a seizure.
Without hesitation, Ahmed sprang into action. Running toward the moving vehicle, he managed to leap inside through the open entryway. Despite having no formal emergency driving training, his immediate priority was bringing the bus to a complete halt before it could crash. Ahmed worked quickly at the controls, shifting the bus into neutral and engaging the parking brake, bringing the runaway vehicle safely to a standstill.
Once the bus stopped, Ahmed dialed 911 to request immediate medical attention for the driver. When emergency responders arrived, they confirmed that 18 children were on board, none of whom sustained any injuries. The school district later confirmed that the driver was treated, released from the hospital, and is recovering comfortably at home, while the students were safely escorted the rest of the way on another bus.
Downplaying praise for his bravery, Ahmed noted that protecting the young passengers was simply the right thing to do. Thanks to his split-second bravery and determination, a potentially tragic accident was averted on the neighborhood street.
