Nationwide — Ebro Ahmed, a 27-year-old Somali American man from St. Paul, Minnesota, jumped onto a runaway school bus and brought it to a stop after its driver suffered a medical emergency. His quick response helped protect more than 18 students who were still on board as the bus moved down a street with its door open.
Ahmed was working at Ya Bricks Snacks and Tobacco in St. Paul on Monday when he noticed the school bus moving without anyone seemingly in control, as reported by 11Alive. The bus’s door was open, and he could see that the driver was incapacitated. At first, Ahmed struggled to believe what he was witnessing, but he soon realized he needed to act.
In an interview, Ahmed said, “I kind of hesitated for a little bit, but I just, this was too crazy not to be real. I just jumped on there, did what I had to do.” Surveillance footage from the nearby store captured the moment he climbed aboard as the bus continued down the street with its safety arm extended. The video also showed the bus moving in reverse before finally coming to a halt.
Ahmed later explained that he accidentally shifted the bus into reverse when he first tried to gain control. He then pulled the parking brake, which stopped the vehicle, and called for emergency assistance. His actions brought the situation under control while the students remained inside the bus.
The driver was beginning to regain consciousness by the time Ahmed stopped the vehicle, but he was still disoriented and unable to fully respond. Ahmed described the driver as being “pretty out of it” while he began to “come to.” The driver’s medical emergency had left the bus moving without proper control, creating a dangerous situation for the children riding inside.
More than 18 students were on the bus when Ahmed intervened. His actions stopped the bus and allowed him to call for help while the driver recovered from the medical emergency. Surveillance footage captured his response as he boarded the moving vehicle and worked to bring it under control, helping prevent an already dangerous situation from escalating.