From the article, it appears that a school bus full of children returning from day camp got caught at one end of the collapse, and a 20 year old counselor's actions got all of the kids and staff off the bus. Here's the article in the NY Times: hero

As tragic as this bridge collapse was, it seems it could have been an even more terrible tragedy had it not been for this young man's actions.

By Dana on Friday, August 3, 2007 - 07:48 am:

I couldn't keep the tears from flowing while reading. I can't imagine the gratitude I would have if it had been my children he saved.

By Karen~admin on Friday, August 3, 2007 - 08:31 am:

I followed this story all day yesterday.........so tragic............and makes you question the infrastructure of a lot of areas............

By Bobbie~moderatr on Friday, August 3, 2007 - 09:22 am:

That young man was so selfless and I am sure many of those kids and their families will be bonded to him for life.. I pray that if my kids are ever in a situation and I am not there that there will be someone like this young man around... His parents should be very proud.. I hope that he is repaid a hundred fold for his actions in his life..


My heart breaks for the families, that have a loved one still in the water.. Terrible to think of someone, let alone as many as they are assuming, going like that... A bridge collapse is a thing of my nightmares. I use to wake up soaked and in a panic after dreaming I had gone over a bridge..

So many prayers for those families, the ones that were hurt, the ones that had to watch it happen and those that are going to be doing the searches... just so sad... yet another mass tragedy for the American history books..

And the number of bridges that are in a questionable state is scary...

By Dawnk777 on Friday, August 3, 2007 - 10:34 am:

That's awesome that that camp counselor was able to get all the kids off the bus! He must have been quaking inside, but cool on the outside!

We were just IN Minnesota, too, and traveled 2 bridges in the Duluth are, extensively, since we our hotel was in WI.(much cheaper!) I'm glad we are home safe.

By Bellajoe on Friday, August 3, 2007 - 10:51 am:

I"m always freaked out when I go over a tall bridge like that. Now, i'm going to be even more afraid. There was a bridge in my town that was totally falling apart. It was not a big bridge or a tall bridge but it was over water and I remember sitting at the traffic light, on that bridge trying to think of how I would get my kids out of their car seats if the bridge were to collapse and we were to survive.

I ended up emailing our Mayor and expressing my fears of that bridge. A year later it was torn down....i know it wasn't all because of me but I like to think that I helped the destruction of it along

That counselor is a hero, not doubt. I pray that if my kids are on a field trip and something happens that someone like him will be there.

By Dawnk777 on Friday, August 3, 2007 - 01:39 pm:

When we went to Niagara Falls, we went through Ontario, into Michigan, over the Blue Waters Bridge, at Sarnia/Port Huron. It is so high above the water and then they made the cars go into the far-right lane. I didn't like being close to the edge and was in a panic, in the car.

Then, we had to go over the Mackinac bridge, to get into upper Michigan, later that day. I was less nervous on that one, because it didn't make us go up a big incline.

This whole bridge thing is not going to help my little bit of a bridge phobia, which I think I got from my dad, who is also scared of driving on bridges. He can do it, but just doesn't like it!

By Cat on Friday, August 3, 2007 - 02:39 pm:

I'm glad that guy had the sense to act when he needed it. Pretty awesome for a 21yo. My heart aches for the rest of the families that either lost people or are still looking for them.

Dawn, we used to go to the UP every year and my mom would make my dad drive in the middle lane and she'd be white knuckled all the way across the bridge. When we were there two years ago they were doing some work on the bridge and they made us drive in the far right lane. It made ME nervous. I did have thoughts about *what if*. I had both my boys with me, ages 9 and 11 at the time and my mom can't swim. Bridges never made me nervous until I had kids.

By Bemerry84 on Friday, August 3, 2007 - 02:59 pm:

I saw him on the news yesterday, what a remarkable young man. He truly is a HERO!!!

Ditto on the Mackinac bridge, my DH had a panic attack while driving over it a couple years ago, I really didn't think we were going to make it. We had to stop as soon as we were off it for him to catch his breath.

We have a fiend who is in maintenance on the Ambassador bridge from Detroit to Windsor, that's a job I wouldn't want and their life insurance is way high.

By Nicki on Friday, August 3, 2007 - 04:50 pm:

The fact that he was able to react with such swiftness inspite of what was happening just amazes me. I think if my child was on that bus I would feel like she had been saved by an earthly angel. I know I would always be so grateful to him! A real hero.

By Ginny~moderator on Monday, August 6, 2007 - 09:43 pm:

Follow up. This young man had to drop out of a technical school because he couldn't afford the tuition. He has received offers of help, including a full scholarship for a degree in Applied Science at Dunwoody College of Technology. hero

And a correction. There were *only* 50 children on the bus. The other 11, including this young man, were adults.

By Dawnk777 on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 - 09:49 am:

Ginny, thanks for mentioning that he gets to go back to school. That was so nice for him to get a full scholarship.

Still, getting 50 kids off a bus, in a scary situation, is still amazing.

By Bobbie~moderatr on Tuesday, August 7, 2007 - 11:15 am:

In all the loss, this is amazing and I am glad he is going to be able to return to school.. Best wishes for him and his future..