Student stops bus when driver falls out of seat

A bus driver fell out of his seat Thursday morning while driving a school bus near Platte Avenue and Chelton Road with students on board.

Jeremy Rice, 14, was able to pull the emergency brake, stopping the bus safely.

KRDO NewsChannel 13 spoke with Rice at Colorado Springs Early Colleges where he is a freshman.

Rice said the bus driver was trying to pick up a bucket that had fallen over. His seat belt was not properly buckled in and he fell into a stairwell while trying to turn at the intersection.

According to police, the driver was turning left from southbound Chelton Road onto eastbound Platte Avenue.

The bus then started to cross the dirt median and onto oncoming traffic. Rice pulled the emergency brake and stop the bus, police said. The bus did not crash into anything and there were no injuries to the 17 students on the bus.

The bus stopped at Swigert Middle School on East Pikes Peak Avenue before heading to Colorado Springs Early Colleges.

Rice said he has a sore neck, but is happy that he and his classmates are safe.