Quick action saves nine students as school bus erupts in flames
In an extraordinary display of bravery and quick thinking, Kia Rousseve, a 28-year-old school bus driver from Louisiana, became a lifeline for nine children when she evacuated them from a bus moments before it was consumed by flames. This act of heroism unfolded on March 13, as Rousseve navigated her usual route for the Community Academies of New Orleans.
Rousseve’s maternal instincts propelled her into action, reflecting on her own child, she prioritized the children’s safety above all. “I thought about them kids like it was my own child,” Rousseve shared with “Good Morning America,” shedding light on the terrifying ordeal.
The incident began to unfold when the school bus started losing power, exhibiting erratic behaviour that signalled immediate danger. “The bus started acting crazy, started jerking and going real, real slow,” Rousseve recounted, a sense of urgency palpable in her voice.
Security camera footage captured the critical moment Rousseve pulled over, alerted by a bystander that flames were visible beneath the vehicle. Without hesitation, Rousseve organized the young passengers, ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade, leading them to safety away from the impending inferno.
As panic set in, with children crying and scattering, Rousseve maintained her composure, her calmness a beacon of stability in the chaos. “I just had to stay calm for the kids,” she stated, underscoring the importance of her role in ensuring the children’s wellbeing in such a perilous situation.
Moments after their escape, the bus was engulfed, with the front of the vehicle being the first to succumb to the flames. Reflecting on the incident, Rousseve expressed a profound sense of relief and gratitude for the lives preserved. “We could have lost our lives,” she mused, the weight of what could have been hanging heavily in her thoughts.
Community Academies of New Orleans lauded Rousseve for her “courage on wheels,” a fitting tribute to a woman whose decisive actions averted a potential tragedy. Rousseve’s story is not just one of survival but of heroism, a testament to the strength and quick thinking of an individual faced with a moment of crisis.
As Rousseve grapples with the aftermath and the recognition of her heroics, she remains focused on the lives she saved, embodying the essence of a true hero. “I was just glad that I was being a hero to the kids and being a hero to myself by getting them off the bus,” she concluded, her actions inspiring a sense of admiration and gratitude within the community and beyond.
