Pregnant School Bus Driver Saves Students from Fire.

Pregnant School Bus Driver Saves Students from Fire.

August 8, 2023 by Cathy Stack

MILWAUKEE, Wis.—Imunek Williams drives a school bus for the Milwaukee Academy of Science. While driving her usual route recently, she detected a strong smoke odor. Among the passengers were 37 young students and Imunek’s own unborn child. While they had only a few blocks to go before reaching their destination, Imunek decided to pull over to ensure the safety of her passengers. When she picked up her radio to call dispatch, she noticed thick smoke filling the bus. With no time to radio for help, she sprang into action. She immediately escorted all the students off the bus and double checked the aisle for any remaining children. She departed the bus last and, minutes later, the vehicle went up in flames. Imunek’s calm, quick thinking and intuitive action saved many young lives.

While they had only a few blocks to go before reaching their destination, Imunek decided to pull over to ensure the safety of her passengers. When she picked up her radio to call dispatch, she noticed thick smoke filling the bus.

With no time to radio for help, she sprang into action. She immediately escorted all the students off the bus and double checked the aisle for any remaining children. She departed the bus last and, minutes later, the vehicle went up in flames. Imunek’s calm, quick thinking and intuitive action saved many young lives.

“I was the last person off,” she said. “Once I got off, I turned around and I just seen flames.”

When Imunek first detected the strange odor that morning, she noticed it differed from the usual smell of exhaust coming off nearby vehicles in traffic. As she continued driving, the odd odor intensified. By listening to her intuition, she made the fateful and wise decision to pull over and ensure the safety of everyone on board.

“Okay, forget the radio. Just get the kids off the bus,” Imunek recalled thinking.

Firefighters arrived on scene as the smoke and flames billowed out of the charred yellow school bus. Onlookers expressed amazement and gratitude that everyone escaped without injury.

First responders transported Imunek, who was eight months pregnant, to a local hospital for smoke inhalation. Doctors evaluated her and her baby and released her shortly thereafter. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but experts cite mechanical failure as the likely cause.

The Milwaukee Academy of Science and the students’ parents offered their praise and great appreciation to Imunek for her heroic action. The Milwaukee Brewers honored their hometown hero by inviting her to throw the first pitch of a recent game at American Family Field.

“Everyone’s OK, so that just makes me happy,” Imunek said. “It just feels good that I was able to get them off and no one was hurt. That's just my biggest concern, because if it was my kid on the bus, I would want the bus driver to do the exact same thing.”

The Foundation For a Better Life and PassItOn believe that Imunek Williams is a true hero. She listened to her instincts and used her best judgment, which proved to be lifesaving. She remained calm and moved with speed to evacuate all her passengers to safety. Her action is a great example of courage. Please help us honor Imunek by sharing her inspiring story.

Watch video here: https://youtu.be/korFXfVhUo0

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