Colonia Baseball Coach Saves Bus Full of Students When Driver Becomes Unconscious

 
Following the Colonia Baseball team's win against North Brunswick on April 30, they were making their usual bus ride back to the high school when things quickly went wrong when exiting North Brunswick High.

As the team’s bus started to turn out of the school and pick up a speed of about 30 mph, head coach Tom Hennessy felt the bus make a sudden movement to the right and begin to slow down. Hennessey tapped the driver on the shoulder and realized the driver was unresponsive.

Hennessy immediately reacted by grabbing the wheel, straightening the bus out and pulling over to the side of the road.

“As soon as I was comfortable with the position, I tried to step on the break,” he told Patch.  “His foot [the driver’s] was caught between the gas and the break, so I stomped on the break to get the bus to stop.”

Once he was able to stop the bus, he felt a sigh of relief.

“I was more nervous with the bus moving with all of the kids on the bus,” he said.

Hennessy said most of the about 40 kids who were on the bus at the time did not even realize what was going on until they exited the bus, they were busy celebrating the win.

Once the bus was safely parked on the side of the road, Hennessy yelled for someone to call 911. He checked the driver’s pulse and began talking to him, about a minute later Hennessy said the driver regained consciousness and once police and paramedics arrived they took over.

“I’m just glad it turned out the way it did, it brought a positive light to this team, the bus driver, and everyone involved,” he said.  “I just hope it never happens again.”

Superintendent of Schools Robert Zega told My Central Jersey that he considers Hennessy a hero. He added that the bus driver is ok following the incident.

“I don't think it's a big deal,” Hennessy said. “I don't call myself a hero, I call myself a teacher.”