D’Anthony Gildon is being hailed a hero after saving 30 students from a burning bus last Thursday
A bus driver is now being hailed a hero after his actions saved the lives of 30 elementary school students when the vehicle went up in flames last week.
D’Anthony Gildon’s bus went into flames on Thursday while he was driving a bus full of students to Warford Elementary School in Kansas City, Missouri.
‘I just immediately knew something was wrong,’ Gildon said to Fox 4.
‘I’ve never been in a situation like that, and I had so many kids that were counting on me.’
Gildon said it took him about 10 seconds to register what was happening when the bus suddenly became a huge ball of fire.
Gildon said it took him about 10 seconds to register what was happening when the bus suddenly became a huge ball of fire
Thick black smoke engulfed the engine and front part of his bus quickly before seeping into where his 30 students were screaming and crying.
After briefly panicking, it registered to him what he needed to do and he said he told one of his older students, a sixth grader, to open the emergency door at the back of the bus.
Then, one by one he was able to have them exit the bus and run across the road and away from the fire.
‘They were frantic! When I told them we got to evacuate because of the fire, everybody kind of ran towards the middle,’ Gildon explained.
Though they were panicking, Gildon said he was able to shepherd them out of the bus.
After briefly panicking, it registered to him what he needed to do and he said he told one of his older students, a sixth grader, to open the emergency door at the back of the bus
He said that once he was able to get them all off of the bus he double checked nobody was left behind before exiting the bus himself
Once they were all safely off he said he walked from the back to the front a few times, looking under each seat and grabbing backpacks to make sure they had everyone.
Gildon said he reacted so quickly in part because he underwent a school bus safety training at work just two days before the fire.
And though he’s being called a ‘hero’ by parents and community members, he insists he’s just a normal guy.
‘I’m just glad everyone got out,’ Gildon said.