Meet Carla Thompson, a bus driver from Silver Springs, Maryland, who turned into a real-life superhero when her school bus full of 20 elementary school kids caught fire. With flames licking at the wheels, Carla’s only focus was getting her little passengers to safety.
It all started with a warning light on the dashboard, but neighbors quickly noticed that things were about to go south as they spotted smoke and flames. Without a second thought, Carla flung open the bus door, unbuckled her seatbelt, and jumped into action. “I just thought of my kids, and I had to get them off that bus,” she recounted to local news. She fearlessly made multiple trips back into the inferno, ensuring every child was accounted for. A nearby neighbor helped guide the children to a safe spot, but Carla wasn’t done yet—she made one last run back inside to confirm there was no one left behind. “I had to make sure every seat was empty,” she said.
The parents of those lucky kids took to social media to express their heartfelt thanks for Carla’s brave actions. While some labeled her a hero, Carla humbly brushes off the title. “I’m just a mom,” she insists, emphasizing that she treats every child on her bus like her own. “While they’re on my bus, I’m their mom until I hand them back to their real moms.”
When we trust our kids to a school bus driver, we hope they’ll be safe and sound. But what Carla did—going back into that burning bus not once, but multiple times—shows a level of selflessness that’s downright inspiring. We can only hope every child has a bus driver as devoted as Carla.
If you’re interested in more stories about the incredible journey of motherhood, check out this post on home insemination kits that dives into the experiences and resources available for parents.
In summary, Carla Thompson’s brave actions saved the lives of 20 children from a burning school bus, and she remains modest about her heroism, identifying as “just a mom.” Her selfless dedication is a shining example of the love and protection that define motherhood.