Young heroes from Silo bus crash honored

Silo Middle School students students Anthony Christopher, Brooklyn Snow, Summer Christopher, Tegan Motley and Hunter Garrison were recognized during an assembly March 13 for their heroic efforts in a March 4 Silo school bus crash when another vehicle hit the bus head on.

Transportation director/bus driver Joey Gastineau was knocked unconscious when his head hit a window.

The students, who followed protocol they had learned in emergency drills, called 911 and evacuated all of the students from the bus and made sure everyone was safe. There were approximately 30 students on the bus and the Oklahoma Highway Patrol said the crash happened when another vehicle veered into their lane.

Gastineau was taken to the hospital where he was treated and released.

Silo High School Principal Jeremy Atwood praised the heroic acts of the five students and said their story needed to be told.

“This is not a negative, on the contrary, this is a very positive thing,” Atwood said. “We had a bus accident and it turned into a situation that really could have been very, very, very bad. But by the acts of five people, it turned into something very positive and so we felt like we had to tell that story because a lot of you don’t have an idea of what happened during that event.

“We felt like we wanted to highlight some of these individuals and tell you, the students, about what some of your classmates did.”

Bus driver and transportation director Gastineau read the names of the students and everyone clapped.

He then spoke about the accident. “Now, no fault of our own, but we pulled up to a stop sign,” Gastineau said. “We wait for traffic to clear and we had a gentleman run off the road, off the highway, and hit us on the front end of the bus. Anytime you’re in an accident, anytime you’re in some type of traumatic event, things get scary, they get hectic.

“While none of these students right here were hurt and thankfully, none of the other students were hurt other than a few minor bruises, I was incapacitated if you want to put it that way. The pickup hit us in the front end of the bus. I hit the window and it knocked me out. These five students right here, while I’m in the front seat not able to help them, they took it upon themselves in a moment of chaos and fear and they showed an act of heroism.”

Summer Christopher called 911 and they began evacuating students from the bus.

“I’m unable to do anything,” Gastineau said. “It is my job to be responsible and to take care of every student on the bus. It is my job, but in that moment, they did what they had been taught in all of the drills we go through.”

Gastineau said the five students evacuated all of the children, big and little, from the bus and took them to a safe place away from the bus.

“If they had not done that, everybody is still stuck on the bus screaming and freaking out,” Gastineau said. “I was in no shape to help. Even once I come to, I was in no shape to help.”

Gastineau said while he was grateful for everyone who helped, he was most grateful for the five students and that he considers them heroes.

“They did what’s called a heroic action and because of your actions, we’re not able to present you certificates today, but First United is presenting you Community Heroes certificates and United Way of Bryan County is also going to present the school with $250 on behalf of you guys, so thank you,” Gastineau said.

Atwood introduced Trooper Jerrid Hobbie, who was one of the responding troopers and Atwood thanked Hobbie for attending the assembly.

“We wanted to invite him to be a part of this,”Atwood said. “It’s such a positive event so we sure appreciate you coming and for what you do. Thank you so much.”