On September 17, a Hollidaysburg Area School District bus in Blair County dropped off ten junior‑high students and then began to roll forward again. The driver’s head started to bob, indicating he was losing consciousness, yet the vehicle kept moving.

Seeing the danger, 10th‑grader Alexis Smith sprinted to the driver’s seat after 12th‑grader Travis Zerby told her to hit the brake. She first pushed the gear shifter into neutral, then pressed the foot brake hard, while checking the driver’s weak pulse and watching his breathing until paramedics arrived.

At the same time, 12th‑grader Skyla Horton pulled the parking brake and opened the side doors to let fresh air in. Another student opened the rear door so the remaining passengers could exit safely. Meanwhile, 10th‑grader Jenna Anderson dialed 911, and Zerby radioed the bus operator, Fullington Bus Co., to report the emergency.

The students said they were able to act because health and medical science teacher Alisha Clingerman had taught them emergency procedures. Principal Breanne Venios later reviewed the footage and praised the group for following their bus‑drill training, keeping phones off, and staying calm and coordinated.

The incident shows that regular emergency drills and basic first‑aid knowledge can empower young people to respond quickly and safely when a crisis occurs.