By Robert Townsend
FOX 4 – August 27, 2013
The community came together on Monday to honor the first responders in Bonner Springs that helped a school bus full of sixth grade girls involved in a crash get out safely. The bus was taking the girls from Pembroke Hill School on a field trip to a camp in Linwood, Kan. when the bus crashed on K-7 near K-32.
Bonner Springs fire, police and EMS crews as well as first responders from Johnson and Wyandotte counties were honored for saving lives and their quick response.
“Well, it feels great. We were just doing what anyone else would do, it just happened to be in our city. We had lots of helps from lots of mutual aid departments and we’re grateful that nobody was seriously hurt,” Dawn Brooks with Bonner Springs EMS said.
All but two of the injured students returned to school on Monday. The bus driver is still being treated at Overland Park Regional Hospital, he is reported to be in serious but stable condition.
A teacher on the bus, Jodie Stallard, also had words of affirmation and she penned a letter to parents that FOX 4 obtained. It read:
“Dear 6th grade parents, I wanted to write a quick note to thank you for your many kind and encouraging words to me, regarding the bus accident. I can still hardly believe it happened and know you all must feel the same. As I look back on Wednesday afternoon, I can’t help but remember how brave each of those girls were in such a traumatic moment… you should feel so proud. Though my introduction to Pembroke Hill was one I wouldn’t like to repeat, I learned quickly that your community rallies around its’ members and for that I feel blessed. Each of your gestures has meant the world to me. I am so looking forward to having your wonderful boys and girls in my art room and having FUN from here on out!
Fondly, Jodie Stallard”
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