In the small town of Duncan, South Carolina lives a hero credited with saving the lives of 56 students – school bus driver Teresa Stroble sprung into action early Tuesday morning before the large vehicle burst into flames.
The morning drive started like any other – Stroble picked up the 56 students all ranging from those who went to Duncan Elementary, Beech Springs Intermediate and Byrnes High School. However, as soon as two 9th graders mentioned smoke emerging from the back, Stroble took no risks and pulled over off the main road.
Stroble, a 7-year veteran driver and a teacher assistant for Spartanburg School District, certainly knows how to handle many of the students that come her way. This skill was particularly useful when she calmly ushered all 56 students off the smoking bus moments before it erupted in flames. According to the school district in an online statement, Stroble “quickly and calmly evacuated all 56 students from the bus, and got them to a safe location… a true hero!”
This apparently happened in just under a minute, according to Superintendent Scott Turner on Twitter. Everyone, both teachers and parents alike, are grateful for her quick action resulting in no injury.
Hero!! Ms. Teresa Stroble. She evacuated 56 students in under a minute. God bless her. So grateful for her quick action pic.twitter.com/n3PYAHmgKX
— Scott Turner (@STSpart5) May 9, 2017
After Stroble had taken the students to a safe location, the bus reportedly exploded. Firefighters and first responders were on location minutes later to extinguish the flames.
The bus had been charred by the intense flames. Thankfully, no one was injured thanks to Ms. Stroble. (Photo // CBS News)
“She was calm. She kept the students calm. She made sure they were safe,” Turner told CBS affiliate WSPA. “They were her first priority. She’s our hero today.”
According to CBS News, a local resident said he witnessed the school bus explosion and could feel the heat as he drove past the bus on the road. The heat was so intense – he could feel it inside his truck.
The school district and fire department is currently investigating the cause of the fire to ensure that this does not happen again. Some suspect that it may have been the heater on the bus.
Ms. Stroble is both a veteran driver and a teacher assistant for the school district. (Photo // WSPA)
Thankfully, Ms. Stroble was there to save the day! Please SHARE her heroic actions!
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