A Michigan schoolboy, who saved his classmates by taking the wheel of their school bus when the driver passed out, has credited the heroic act with not being distracted by a cell phone.
Dillon Reeves, 13, realized the woman driving the bus that took him and his classmates home from Carter Middle School in Warren had lost consciousness.
He sprang into action quickly, grabbing the wheel and slamming on the brakes, managing to stop the bus away from traffic while telling his frightened classmates to call 911.
The seventh grade father, Steve told CBS: ‘What else are you going to do if you don’t have a phone? You start looking at people, you start noticing things.
“You’re going to look out the window. It’s a very powerful lesson, perhaps one that will change the world.”
The schoolboy has also spoken out for the first time since the April 26 incident, telling the program: ‘I just knew what I had to do at that point. The bus went off the road.’
The moment when the heroic Dillon Reeves relinquished control of the school bus after the driver lost consciousness
Reeves and 66 other students were on their way home from Carter Middle School when the heroic teen sprang into action
Steve told a press conference after the event that he and his wife, Ireta, were “very, very proud” of their son, “he cares a lot about his environment.”
Ireta added on Facebook, “Jesus had everything to do with the courage and quick action Dillon showed today.
“For Dillon, it’s just another day. He has no idea how many people are so proud of him today,” she wrote.
Classmates who were in the vehicle during the scary episode told CBS how they were distracted by their electronic devices when Dillon was already in control of the situation.
“I had my AirPods on,” explains one student.
“I was looking on my phone,” said another, while a classmate added, “I was playing a game on my phone.”
Their son’s efforts have given his parents more reason not to give Dillon a cell phone.
This may seem unfair to some teens, but Dillon just shrugged and said, “Whatever.” My parents are old-fashioned.’
Footage of Dillon’s courageous actions was captured by the security camera on the bus taking children home from Carter Middle School in Warren, Michigan.
Dillon’s proud parents Steve and Ireta Reeves say his efforts are more reason to deny him a cell phone
Proud parents Steve and Ireta Reeves described how Dillon is ‘very attentive to his surroundings’
In a green hoody and jeans, Dillon is seen running to the wheel and searching for the break after noticing the driver was unconscious.
He managed to park the bus on Masonic Boulevard and told his friends, who can be heard screaming on the recording, to call 911.
The bus driver, who has only been employed since July 2022 and has not yet been named, was transported to a local hospital due to an unspecified medical condition.
No passengers were injured.
Warren Police Commissioner Dwyer praised Dillon for his actions
Dillon sprang into action quickly, directing the bus to a stop away from traffic on the side of the road
Dillon has been praised by his school’s superintendent for his ‘extraordinary act of bravery’
Robert Livernois, superintendent of The Warren Consolidated School said: ‘He got up, assessed the situation and saw the driver pass out. This was an extraordinary act of courage.’
Add: “He jumped up from his seat, threw down his backpack, ran forward and grabbed the steering wheel and brought the bus to a stop.”
Warren Police Commissioner Dwyer also praised Dillon for his actions and invited him to the police station, accompanied by his proud parents.
Carter Middle School was contacted for comment.