Bemidji,MN : Heroes honored for assisting children following school bus crash on may, Wednesday 17th 2017

A group of citizens was honored Wednesday for the actions they took following a school bus crash.

Wednesday’s light drizzle in Bemidji did not rain on the parade of the 15 people who were honored for their helpful and heroic actions following a school bus crash on May 3rd.


That rain may have slowed Patrick Stout down tonight.

Stout: “We were a little late. I had to finish my bus route.”

Dozens of local law enforcement agents and first responders gathered Wednesday at Bemidji High School to recognize Stout and 14 other citizens who helped children to safety following the crash. A morning this seasoned bus driver will never forget.

Stout: “Lots of bad words, lots of swearing, like this can’t be true.”

That's what Stout recalls from that routine morning bus ride that nearly turned tragic when a car allegedly blew through a stop sign. Stout tried to avoid the crash, but he couldn't. The bus tipped with 30 kids on board.

Stout: “We've got training every year on what to do for stuff like that. It was the first time I ever had to do anything like that so.”

Jim Hess, superintendent: "Oh, he did a lot more than just that. That's just our Minnesota nice thing. He was there and he wanted to make sure all the children were evacuated from the bus. He stood right by the back of the bus helping kids off, and making sure that everyone was given the medical attention that they needed. So I appreciate his modesty, but really he truly is a hero."

Amazingly, no one was seriously injured. While many first point to Stout as the hero for maintaining control of the situation, he points right back at all the random strangers who stopped that morning.

Stout: “To see everybody come together to help out a bus tipped on its side that was full of kids. It was awesome.”

As the community came together to recognize the 15 heroes by showering them with cards and gifts of thanks, Stout maintains he was just doing his job.

Stout: “Well, I ain’t no hero. It was the kids and the guys that were there right away."

The Beltrami County Sheriff is still investigating to determine if the driver of the car who caused the crash will face any charges.

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Heroes honored for assisting children following school bus crash