13-Year-Old Boy Saves 60 Other Kids from a Potentially "Disastrous" Bus Crash

A young seventh-grade teenager with no driving experience displayed remarkable courage by saving the lives of 60 students on a school bus from a potentially disastrous crash when the driver unexpectedly lost consciousness, and perhaps his parents' decision not to give him a cell phone played a crucial role in this extraordinary act. 

Sharp Eyes & Swift Response

Despite not having his driver's license yet, a teenager from Warren, Michigan, fearlessly took hold of the steering wheel and prevented a potential disaster after his bus driver passed out.

On Wednesday, April 27, 13-year-old Dillon Reeves was seated in the fourth row of Bus No. 46, engaging in conversation with a classmate after school. As Dillon recounted to PEOPLE, he glanced out the window and observed the vehicle "swerving.”

Trusting His Gut

Turning his eyes towards the bus driver, Dillon saw her eyes shut tight as her head drooped forward, and she wasn't even holding the steering wheel or pressing the gas pedal. 

 "It just didn't seem right," he recalls. 

Taking Action

When Dillon sensed that the bus was nearing a curb and heading towards a lawn, he immediately got up from his seat, skillfully maneuvered the wheel to avoid colliding with another car at the intersection, and finally applied the air brakes. 

A Potential Disaster 

Clearly, Dillon knew exactly what he was doing when he took charge of the “chaotic” situation. Thanks to his courageous efforts, the school bus, with around 60 middle school children on board, came to a safe and complete stop.

Living approximately 15 minutes from Lois E. Carter Middle School, Dillon recounted that the bus was only two blocks away from his stop when the driver lost consciousness. "It certainly would've been disastrous," Warren Mayor James R. Fouts said.

Too Busy To Call for Help 

Once the bus has come to a complete stop, Dillon, who doesn’t own a cellphone, told the kids who were recording the incident to call for help. To his shock, they refused to call for help as they were too busy filming.

“They Needed To Be Mature”

Dillon found it unbelievable that they considered recording the incident more important than calling for assistance, thinking that it was an immature thing to do. 

"If you can film, you can call 911!" he says. "It frustrated me so bad. They just needed to be mature and do what's right."

He Learned It From A Friend

Despite having minimal driving experience that is limited to GoKarts, a golf cart, and maneuvering a car in a parking lot, Dillon still possessed the understanding of pumping the brakes. 

Fortunately, he learned this skill over time by paying close attention to the bus driver, with whom he had established a friendship.

Parents’ Decision Paid Off 

It is likely that Dillon's parents' previous decision not to give him a cell phone allowed him to gain some knowledge of driving, ultimately leading to the rescue of young lives.

“What else are you going to do when you don’t have a phone? You’re going to look at people, you’re going to notice stuff. You’re going to look out the window,” his father said. It’s a very powerful lesson, maybe a change-the-world kind of lesson.”

YouTube Videos Proved Beneficial 

In addition to learning over time from the bus driver, Dillon also finds enjoyment in watching YouTube videos of first responders rescuing people. 

I think watching those videos was probably training for him," remarked his stepmother, Ireta Reeves.

Step-Mother Was “Shaking” 

Dillon’s stepmother arrived home early from work that day and was surprised when she noticed a different bus pulling up to his usual stop. The 45-year-old community nurse watched as the children exited the bus and walked in a different direction than they typically would.

Curious to find out what was happening, she drove up to the corner and discovered a fire truck, an ambulance, and several police cars, but her stepson was nowhere to be seen. "I was shaking," she recalled saying.

“Something's Wrong”

Immediately, Ireta called her husband, a 47-year-old health and safety supervisor, to ask if Dillon had returned home. He happened to be in the kitchen preparing dinner at that moment.

"I said, 'Something's wrong. There's an accident up here. Something bad happened. There's police everywhere, something's wrong,'" Ireta remembered.

Moment of Relief

In the midst of his stepmother and her husband's panic, his work phone suddenly rang, delivering a moment of relief as the police officer on the line conveyed the message, “Your son is a hero.”

Tight Hug

Ireta then made her way to the parking lot where she found the officer and her stepson. "I gave him a giant hug. I squeezed him so tight," she recalled. 

"The principal came up and was like, 'Do you know what he did?.... He stopped the bus from getting in an accident. He saved everybody!'"

Modest Hero

Later that day, the hero kid visited the fire station and police station to express his gratitude to the first responders. Dillon's modesty was evident, as he remarked, "All I did was stop the bus." 

Potential for Achieving More

In addition, the teenager has kept in touch with the bus driver, who has since returned home and is "doing well" but will need additional six months to be able to return to work again. The grateful driver wrote in a text message to the teen's stepmother, "I'm so thankful Dillon was on the bus that day."

"His swift actions saved lives and property and he deserves all the attention for his bravery. He was asking a few months back about being a bus driver, how old did you have to be and if it was hard," she continued. "He thought he might want to be a bus driver one day. It's a great job. I love it. But I hope Dillon can see his potential to be so much more."

Proud Parents

Although Dillon wishes he had pulled the bus over and parallel parked it to ease traffic flow, everyone seems to hold the 13-year-old hero in high regard, with his father expressing, "We're very proud of him. He has a very kind heart. He's always trying to help people out."

Mayor Fouts also stated, "We want to encourage young people: if you see something, not only say something but do something. By acting quickly, he saved lives and I think forever changed his life."

A Bright Future Ahead

As news of Dillon's courageous act spread nationwide, many impressed people have contacted his parents expressing their genuine desire to help their boy. Among these generous individuals were those who sent checks to contribute to Dillon's family.

This assistance from random strangers led his parents to open a bank account and launch a GoFundMe campaign that aims at helping Dillon achieve his aspiration of becoming a first responder in the future. 

Now that the incident has safely passed, Dillon genuinely advises everyone to "look out for each other."

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