In 2023, I wrote about a young boy from Detroit named Dillon Reeves who, because of his quick thinking, and skills he had learned from his father, was able to take over the driving of his school bus after the driver lost consciousness. Interesting that these stories seem to repeat themselves every few years. But what's even more amazing is that we have young people who know how to step up to the plate, take action, and do what is needed to save lives.
The kids are all right, is the subject of this week's Feel-Good Friday.
Flashback Feel-Goods: Feel-Good Friday: Young Dillon Reeves Saves the Lives of His Classmates When the Bus Driver Passes Out
Thanks to our own Sister Toldjah (Stacey Matthews) for finding and vetting the veracity of this story.
Heart-stopping video from inside a school bus showed nearly a dozen Mississippi middle school students jumping into action after their bus driver lost consciousness Wednesday behind the wheel.
Video from the Hancock County School District captured the driver, Leah Taylor, passing out during an asthma attack as the bus continued rolling forward.
A student in the front of the bus noticed Taylor slouched over and grabbed the wheel, before she briefly regained consciousness.
It became a team effort at this point, when the bus driver once again lost consciousness. The four students: McKenzy Finch, Jackson Casnave, Darrius Clark, Kayleigh Clark, and Destiny Cornelius rallied together to administer first aid, call 911, and then steer the bus before bringing it safely to a stop.
Other students ran up to the front of the bus as she collapsed a second time, falling backward.
One boy quickly slammed on the brakes, as a girl administered medication Taylor was holding and others called for help.
WATCH:
Five Hancock County, #Mississippi students saved a bus after driver Leah Taylor passed out from an asthma attack.
— AugustinBrian🇺🇸 (@AugustinBrian3) April 30, 2026
Jackson Casnave grabbed the wheel, while sixth grader Darrius Clark hit the brakes as the bus rolled forward. Others helped administer medicine. pic.twitter.com/aR8hlqSKP7
The five helpers, their fellow middle school students, and their bus driver Leah Taylor were uninjured and are all doing fine. The brave actions, quick thinking, and teamwork of McKenzy, Jackson, Darrius, Kayleigh, and Destiny were commended during a pep rally at Hancock Middle School.
Melissa Saucier, Hancock's principal, was also laudatory.
"This emergency situation could have definitely been detrimental and they handled it exactly how they should have," Saucier said. "We’re extremely proud of them."
In 2022, in another Feel-Good Friday story, I detailed this same bravery, perspicacity, and quick thinking of a Mississippi teenager named Corion Evans who saved the life of two girls and a police officer who had crashed into the river, and would have drowned save for his actions. I surmised there were things instilled in that young man that made the difference in him meeting that moment. The same things no doubt apply to the five middle schoolers:
Moral grounding: Risking your safety and security on behalf of another requires a moral center, and this is not simply happenstance. Bravo to those parents who instilled in their children an awareness of others, and a desire to make a difference.
Physical fitness: Mental and physical clarity go hand-in-hand. The fact that these young people were sharp enough, and had the situational awareness to act so quickly, indicates that they don't spend their entire days playing video games or with their eyes glued to their smartphones. That physical fitness gave them the mental agility to formulate and execute the plan, and work together to save lives.
Respect for Life and Authority: They cared enough for their bus driver, their fellow classmates, and themselves to be the ones that made the difference.
May we come to see more of these bright, young lights get the attention they deserve for their heroic acts.
Editor's Note: At RedState, it's not all about politics and policy. We like to bring attention to what's good in the world, with columns like "Feel-Good Friday," "Start Your Weekend Right," and "Hoge's Heroes."
Support our work! Join RedState VIP and use the promo code FIGHT to get 60% off your VIP membership!
Join the conversation as a VIP Member