MICHIGAN, USA – It was an ordinary on Wednesday, April 26, 2023, in the northern state of Michigan until a 13-year-old boy named Dillon Reeves turned it into an extraordinary feat of heroism, saving the lives of nearly 70 of his schoolmates.
The Lois E. Carter Middle School student was aboard a school bus carrying dozens of his peers when he noticed something was wrong: the driver had lost consciousness. Without missing a beat, the quick-thinking teen sprang into action.
“Dillon got up, grabbed the steering wheel, and managed to bring the vehicle to a halt using the handbrake,” school district superintendent Robert Livernois recounted, adding that the scene of the event was right in the middle of the road.
The drama played out in real-time, captured on a video released by the authorities. The footage shows the young hero taking control of the bus as panicked screams filled the air. Amid the chaos, Reeves maintained his composure, even having the presence of mind to instruct someone to call 911, the emergency rescue service number.
Jonathan Lafferty, a city councilor in the town of Warren where the incident occurred, took to Facebook to laud the seventh-grader’s courageous actions.
“The City of Warren is very proud of our 7th Grade Hero Dillon Reeves,” Lafferty wrote. “This young man jumped into action when his school bus driver experienced a medical emergency, bringing the bus to a stop and avoiding what could have been a very tragic accident.”
In a time when acts of bravery often go unnoticed, Reeves’ feat stands as a shining example of courage and quick thinking, proving that heroes can indeed come in all ages. As the town of Warren continues to rally around their new local hero, there’s no doubt that this is a day Dillon Reeves and his schoolmates won’t soon forget.
