Cleveland, OH — Dorian Pace, an African American school bus driver from Ohio, is being hailed as a hero after he saved 15 students from a burning bus in a dramatic incident on February 27th. His quick thinking and emergency training ensured everyone escaped safely.
Dorian Pace, a veteran bus driver with 11 years of experience, was taking students to Monticello Middle School in Cleveland Heights when he heard a loud boom from underneath the bus. Moments later, he saw smoke and flames coming from the right rear tire.
Acting fast, Pace immediately went into ‘bus evacuation mode.’ His training helped him stay calm as he directed all 15 students to exit through the front door, away from the spreading fire.
“What was going through my mind was, ‘I can’t lose any kids,’” Pace told Good Morning America.
At first, the students didn’t realize how serious the fire was. Many felt scared but followed Pace’s instructions. Witnesses outside saw the flames and explosions unfold.
Pace and the students safely exited the bus, and no one was injured. The incident has made Pace a local hero.
“I would feel such a level of comfort putting my kids on one of your school buses, knowing that there are men and women of this character,” said Andy Wilson, director of the Ohio Department of Public Safety.
“Thank you so very much for making all bus drivers across this state proud,” said Davida Russell, the vice president of the Cleveland Heights City Council.
The exact cause of the fire is still under investigation, though authorities believe it started behind the wheel well. The bus passed its annual inspection just two weeks before the incident. The school district is now re-inspecting its entire fleet as a precaution.
