By Sterling McGinn
A middle school and a high school student from Newberry are being praised for their actions after a bus accident last Thursday.
After school on Thursday, September 11, Howard Bliss’s school bus was involved in an accident with an SUV while students were still onboard. First responders were called to the accident, which was at the intersection of M-28 and Luce County Road 403 by America’s Best Value Inn.
While Bliss, who is also the district’s transportation director, was on the radio calling in the accident, two older students, high schooler Gracie Osterhout and middle schooler Logan Dewitt, busied themselves by making sure all younger students on the bus were safe.
There were no injuries.
Bliss was impressed with the students’ quick response.
“They stepped up and above what I ever expected,” Bliss said. “I did not have to tell them what to do or ask them to do anything.”
In the past, Gracie and Logan have helped younger students on and off the bus during evacuation drills.
“They know what to do if something happens to me on the bus,” Bliss said. That includes where to go and who to contact.
“It really shocked me that they took it into their own hands. It shows me that they did pay attention,” Bliss said.
Gracie and Logan were awarded certificates of recognition at Monday night’s board meeting.
The certificates, given by Superintendent Shawn Tebo and Transportation Director Howard Bliss state, “For taking the initiative to assist with younger students and taking responsibility to do the right thing without being told in an emergency situation.”
Tebo spoke to the students to share her gratitude.
“Not everyone is able to handle their cool like you two,” Tebo said. “As you told me ‘We didn’t care what we felt, or if we were hurt, we just wanted to make sure the younger kids were okay,’ and that is just amazing.”
