Wisconsin 8th Grader Saves Students on School Bus After Driver Passes Out: 'Made Me Feel Good'

David Chiu
·3 min read

Glen Hills Middle School principal praised student Acie Holland III for his heroics after preventing a moving school bus from disaster

<p>Glendale-River Hills School District</p> Acie Holland III

Glendale-River Hills School District

Acie Holland III

  • Acie Holland III took over the bus' steering wheel after the driver temporarily lost consciousness, preventing a potential tragedy

  • In a letter to parents, the school principal praised the eighth-grader for his "compassion and leadership" during the incident

  • "He's capable of almost anything," father Acie Holland II said of his son 

An eighth-grade student in Wisconsin stopped a school bus from veering into an oncoming lane after the bus driver experienced a medical emergency on April 24, said officials.

In a letter sent to school district parents, Glen Hills Middle School principal Anna Young praised 14-year-old Acie Holland III’s quick thinking in averting a potential tragedy for the students and the driver.

She said that the bus driver experienced a temporary loss of consciousness while on her school bus route.

Related: 'Hero' 7th Grader Grabs Steering Wheel and Stops School Bus After Driver Passes Out

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“Acie recognized that the driver was not responsive so he rushed to move her foot off the gas, applied the brake, and securely parked the bus,” Young wrote. “He contacted 911 and ensured younger students were okay and instructed them to contact their parents.

“He also sought out his grandmother, who is a nurse, to support the situation,” the principal's letter continued. “The driver regained consciousness and called Riteway dispatch, who sent their safety team and an alternate bus driver to complete the route.”

In an interview with NBC affiliate WTMJ, Holland said that at the time of the incident, he was looking at his phone when he felt the bus accelerating.

<p>Glendale-River Hills School District</p> Acie Holland III was recognized by the Glendale-River Hills School District

Glendale-River Hills School District

Acie Holland III was recognized by the Glendale-River Hills School District

Related: Driver Speaks Out After She Flew Through Windshield When Bus Full of Students Blew Tire

"And I looked at the bus driver because she went past my stop and I looked and I seen her head just go down,” he recalled to the outlet.

Per ABC affiliate WISN, Holland grabbed the steering wheel before calling 911 for help. “Then I get us to the curb,” he added, “and I hit the brakes close and then when we hit the curb, I turned the wheel all the way because I didn't know where the parking brake was.”

Holland's father, Acie Holland II, expressed pride in his son’s heroics, telling WTMJ, “It didn't [faze] me because I know that he's capable of almost anything."

Related: New Orleans Bus Driver Saves 8 Students from Explosion: ‘Nothing Short of Heroic,’ Says Boss

In an April 25 Facebook post, the Glendale-River Hills School District hailed the student as a hero, writing, “The District would like to recognize eighth grader, Acie Holland III for his extreme bravery during an alarming bus incident this past Wednesday. Thank you for your quick thinking and calm response, Acie! We are so proud of you! 🤩🙌”

The student also told WISN that the experience has boosted him on a personal level. "[It] made me feel good that I know that I saved people,” Holland said, “and I know I feel more confident now and brave."

Young concluded her letter by saying that the Glen Hills school community could not be any prouder of Holland. “The compassion and leadership that we see him exhibit daily was taken to the next level on his bus ride home yesterday,” she wrote. “We are grateful that all of our Glen Hills students are safe and are wishing their driver a healthy recovery."

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