Hotmail
Messenger
My MSN
MSN Directory
11-year-old hero 'parked' runaway school bus
Boy reveals struggle to prevent packed vehicle from colliding with semi
 | Video |
 | Children flee driverless bus April 7: Witnesses in Cleveland, Ohio, saw schoolchildren jumping from a moving school bus that rolled downhill into a bridge support after the driver got off to go to the restroom. MSNBC |
 | Video: Wonderful World |
 Umpire, 92, celebrates 50th year on job July 25: Umpires and referees can be some of the most-hated people in sports, so when you find one people actually like, it's almost like being sainted. WETM-TV's Emerson Lotzia reports. |
Your turn! |
 | Inspirational athletes In honor of the 2008 Olympics, we're celebrating the athletes in your own life who inspire greatness. |
Giving |
Nonprofits walk fine line on political activity Nonprofits could be one of the "sleeping giants" of this fall’s presidential election, having as much to do with turning red states blue — or vice versa — as will Iraq, Barack or soaring gas prices. Contribute magazine has the story. |
CLEVELAND - An 11-year-old boy who steered a runaway school bus to safety said Wednesday he took the wheel because the vehicle was rolling toward a semi.
David Murphy said other children on board during Monday's crash were "freaking out," screaming and hollering, and he decided he had to do something.
"I took the wheel and had to turn the wheel on the sidewalk," he said.
His mother said she was amazed.
"When I saw the precision of the bus, it seemed like it was parked," Patricia Murphy told told on ABC's "Good Morning America." "I couldn't believe it and that he had that strength and that direction."
She said she figured out a reason her son was so quiet afterward was that he was terrified he'd get in trouble for taking the wheel.
Click for related content |
David was among 27 students headed to a charter school on Monday when the driver stopped at a Cleveland service station, pumped about $40 of fuel and went into the restroom while the bus was parked and running.
In his absence, the bus began rolling about 300 feet down a side street that swoops through an industrial area and was on a collision course with a semitrailer.
David told police he first tried to pull the emergency brake. When that didn't work, he grabbed the wheel and stopped the bus by guiding it into a bridge's concrete support pillar.
'Shy kid'
"He veered the bus into the last possible pillar," said Cleveland Fire Department spokesman Larry Gray. "He was a shy kid. I don't think he grasped the magnitude of what he did."
It's not clear why the bus started to roll, police Lt. Thomas Stacho said. Investigators did not find any mechanical problems and a gas station employee watching the bus said none of the children appeared to tamper with anything, he said.
Some students jumped out as the bus rolled. Fifteen were checked later at hospitals, but severe injuries were avoided.
"We are excited that every one of those kids went home, and we spoke with all of their families today," Head of School Alexis Rainbow said Tuesday.
The driver, Michael Weir, 57, will be cited for leaving a vehicle unattended with the keys in the ignition and for registration violations, Cleveland police spokesman Thomas Stacho said Tuesday.
Weir has a valid commercial driver's license but wasn't registered with the state as required, police said. His license was suspended for six months in 2006 and was reissued July 16.
- Discuss Story On Newsvine
- Rate Story:
View popularLowHigh - Instant Message
MORE FROM WONDERFUL WORLD |
 Wonderful World Section Front |
| Add Wonderful World headlines to your news reader: |
Sponsored links
Resource guide