Catrina, 8, and her 14-year-old brother, Charlie, describe the tense minutes as classmates looked on.
ASHLAND, Ohio — Two siblings riding a Crestview school bus stepped in when the driver appeared in distress on Friday morning, Dec. 19, guiding classmates to stay calm, pulling the parking brake and using the onboard radio to call for help, according to the family and district officials.
The episode drew attention because the bus was moving downhill when the driver signaled she needed help. The children — identified by their mother as Catrina, 8, and Charlie, 14 — say they followed what they had seen and been told about bus safety as crews were dispatched. The driver, who declined an interview, is out of the hospital. District leaders say the case underscores routine training on two-way radios and student awareness while they review the timeline and communications from the route.
In a video from inside the bus, Catrina is seen asking the driver if she is OK and getting a head shake in response. “I ran up and said, ‘What is wrong?’” she told reporters, recalling how the driver pointed at her throat. The bus continued down a hill as students began to look forward. “That’s when I realized something was going on,” Charlie said. Amid the confusion, another student asked for help and called his name. Catrina said she pulled the parking brake as the bus rolled. Charlie moved to the front, grabbed the handset and radioed for assistance, telling the school where they were and, “Bus driver is not breathing.” He then checked on the driver as other students shifted to the back.
The driver did not speak publicly but told the superintendent she emphasizes radio use with students, according to the district. The siblings’ mother, Tiffany Erwin, said the call she received about what happened left her “overwhelmed” and proud. “I was joyful that my kids were knowledgeable enough and knew what to do to actually help somebody,” she said. Charlie later described shaking once the incident ended and said he focused on keeping students calm. “You just gotta be calm and do what needs to be done at the time,” he said. Catrina said she felt “proud and happy” that the driver was “all better now.” The school confirmed the driver is recovering at home.
Officials said the incident occurred near the end of the morning route on Dec. 19, with winter weather and slick roads reported in the region. Crestview leaders noted that students are shown how the two-way radio works and how to communicate route numbers and locations in an emergency. The district and transportation staff are reviewing the response sequence, including the dispatch time, radio traffic and how quickly relief arrived at the bus. There were no reports of significant injuries among students, and families were notified after the driver received medical attention.
Any decisions about commendations will come after the district completes its review and receives a medical update from the driver’s family. Transportation officials said they plan to debrief drivers and riders in January and refresh guidance on when to stop, how to position students, and what information to share over the air. The district said it will determine whether to hold a recognition event at an upcoming board meeting, pending the driver’s preferences. No criminal investigation is expected because the episode is being treated as a medical emergency, and there are no indications of equipment failure.
Parents and students who gathered at later pickup points described quiet rides and a fast return to routine. “They were scared but steady,” one parent said after meeting the bus. Another student said Charlie “was calm and concentrated,” echoing his sister’s description. Neighbors near the route said they saw a patrol car and school staff arrive, then leave once the bus was secured. The family said the siblings spent the afternoon with relatives as calls and messages came in from classmates’ families.
As of Friday afternoon, the driver was home and recovering, the district said. A timeline of the response and any formal recognition for the students is expected at the next Crestview board session in early January.
Author note: Last updated December 26, 2025.