South Carolina student took wheel when bus driver was ejected in I-10 South MS bus incident
A charter bus driver is being hailed a hero along with a University of South Carolina student following a blowout on Interstate 10 in Hancock County on Friday, according to authorities.
The incident unfolded Friday afternoon after a blowout on the Dixon Motor Xpress charter bus carrying members of USC’s Sigma Phi Epsilon fraternity, Bay St. Louis Police Chief Toby Schwartz said.
After the blowout, the bus shifted to one side and was still rolling, Schwartz said, when “the female bus driver took every piece of strength in her body to hold that steering wheel long enough to get it back down on the road.”
When the bus hit the asphalt again, the windshield shattered, and the driver, identified as Tina Wilson of Roebuck, South Carolina, was ejected.
When Wilson was ejected, USC student Paul Clune jumped out of his seat, ran to the front of the bus, grabbed the steering column and managed to get the bus to stop without rolling over.
“If that bus had flipped, we would have had casualties,” Schwartz said. “It’s the bus driver and student that saved those kids. The bus driver is an incredible hero.
The force of the impact resulted in injuries.
Two victims were taken from the scene by helicopter, one of which was the driver of the bus, who was ejected. Nine students were taken by ambulance to local hospitals, Mississippi Highway Patrol Trooper Cal Robertson said.
The crash occurred around 3:30 p.m. in the westbound lanes of Interstate 10 and Highway 603, according to the Mississippi Department of Transportation.
“SigEp sends our support and compassion to those impacted by the tragic accident involving a charter bus carrying some members and guests of our South Carolina Alpha chapter,” a spokesman for the fraternity said. “The safety of these students is our top concern and we are grateful to the first responders and all those providing care. We commend the SigEp member who acted instantaneously to take control of the bus and prevent further tragedy. We will continue to work with the University of South Carolina and local authorities to support the physical and emotional health of our students and guests.”
The New Orleans Advocate reported westbound lanes of I-10 were blocked for hours while first responders and authorities cleared the roadway and got students to safety. People trapped behind the crash site had parked their cars and were standing outside, trying to get a glimpse of the crash.
Students were taken from the scene to Bay St. Louis Municipal Court, where they awaited transportation to New Orleans.
At the Municipal Court, students split off in groups to take Ubers or private vehicles to New Orleans. Bay St. Louis Police helped students with transportation, Schwartz said.
Law enforcement officials at the Municipal Court said Friday evening they had no updates on the conditions of those injured.
“We’re hopeful no one will be kept overnight,” Schwartz said. “We pray that the driver is going to be given a better bill of health.”
Shaken and quiet students at the Municipal Court declined to speak about the experience. Schwartz said Clune, a supply chain management major, was too humble to talk about commandeering the bus.
Bay St. Louis Police officers and Hancock officials gave the students pizza and soft drinks as they waited for rides.
Near sunset, the last of the students gathered stray belongings for friends who had not picked them up after the crash.
“The University of South Carolina was informed tonight of an accident in Mississippi involving a charter bus carrying USC fraternity members and their guests traveling to an event in New Orleans,” a university spokesman said. “USC is working closely with local authorities on the scene to obtain updates on our students and to assist in whatever capacity we can.Our thoughts go out to the students involved in the accident and those affected by it.”
