ABC News Blogs

N.C. School Bus Driver Saves Students From Burning Bus

By Ben Forer | ABC News Blogs – Fri, Feb 10, 2012 3:11 PM EST

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Bus driver Lindora Richardson was driving her normal after-school route in Charlotte, N.C., Wednesday when she noticed a burning smell.

"I smelled something and I just knew it didn't smell right," she told ABC News Charlotte affiliate WSOC-TV.

Smoke then started pouring from the steering wheel of the 13-year-old bus and that's when Richardson took action. "As I saw the smoke, I knew it was time to get the kids and myself off the bus," she said.

Richardson led the six kids out the back of the bus before it burst into flames less than five minutes later.

"I was calm and they were calm and I felt that's what aided in a safe delivery for the kids," Richardson, 37, said. "I'm no hero. … I was just doing my job."

Fire investigators told WSOC-TV that they believe the blaze was caused by an electrical wiring malfunction.

WSOC-TV contributed to this report. 

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  • Johnny
    Johnny  •  3 months ago
    Great job staying calm and making sure those children were safe.
    • lola123
      lola123 3 months ago
      Keeping calm is the most important thing. Had she panicked, the kids would have panicked, too! Happy endings for all!
    • carl
      carl 3 months ago
      Who in their right mind would give a thumbs down to your comment?
    • Brendan
      Brendan 3 months ago
      it's refreshing to know there are true professionals out there who know how to handle every situation
  • Casey
    Casey  •  3 months ago
    Good job,,,,,give her a well deserved raise.
    • tufluv
      tufluv 3 months ago
      How about she receive a nice new bus to drive? Great job Lindora!
    • A Yahoo! User 3 months ago
      DEFINETLY!
    • alvin
      alvin 3 months ago
      All ways want to give she did the right thing but she also failed to make sure the bus was safe for those kids put her #$%$ in jail now.
  • Carrie B
    Carrie B  •  Minneapolis, Minnesota  •  3 months ago
    I think you are a hero! And I am sure those kids, parents and loved ones would all agree with me!!!!
    • Leah Kettering
      Leah Kettering 3 months ago
      I'm just guessing obviously, but I think the two thumbs down for Rose and the one thumb down for Carrie were posted by Democrats, for obvious reasons.
    • Ronald
      Ronald 3 months ago
      @"Leah Kettering" Politics really are you kidding me? Grow the Fu
    • The Shadow
      The Shadow 3 months ago
      @Ronald I'm with you. I think the problem is that Republicans and Democrats both think the other is the embodiment of all evil and independents think they are both crazy. I''m done talking about politics as now.
  • Lisa
    Lisa  •  3 months ago
    She is the opposite of "Captain" Schettino. So happy her and the children are all safe! I hope my kids' bus driver does the exact same as she if ever in a similar situation.
    • Kevin Seiden
      Kevin Seiden 3 months ago
      She is more like Captain Sullenberger
    • Chelsey
      Chelsey 3 months ago
      i hope she does the same too. but i sure hope that never happens !
    • Mike
      Mike 3 months ago
      Hey, that captain slipped on a banana peel and fell overboard and coincidentally landed a life boat and could not return to the ship! To make him out to be a coward is so unbelievable! Get the story straight!
  • J-Mack
    J-Mack  •  3 months ago
    School bus drivers have a ton of responsibility. I bet they get paid squat for what they do.
    • Melanie
      Melanie 3 months ago
      Post man get way more money and there just delivering mail!
    • Melissa
      Melissa 3 months ago
      Bus drivers that work for companies that lease to school districts make crap, but typically bus drivers that work for school districts that own their own buses make out well. In 1991 my mother who had been a stay at home mom since 1978 when I was born was hired on as a driver and started at $14.90 per hour part time. By the next year she was full time and making $17 an hour. When she left in 1997 due to an injury she was making $26 an hour. Pretty darn good money I would say. Plus we had excellent completely paid for health benefits and she was prorated so she got paid for all breaks. I have a college degree, work a noble job and make almost half that.
    • Terri Martin
      Terri Martin 3 months ago
      Bus drivers pay depends on location and years of experiance..........but you are correct.........the pay could be better but at least it pays the bills.
  • megan
    megan  •  Monroe, Louisiana  •  3 months ago
    Wonderful job!! we need more drivers like you!! and as a side note, who would dislike any of these comments i mean there all applauseing her and the students for escaping a fire what could be better?!
  • BookWorm
    BookWorm  •  New York, New York  •  3 months ago
    I'm happy to hear about this. Its good to know that despite all the bad, there are still some great people out there.

    You go bus driver!!!
  • "Royal-T"
    "Royal-T"  •  New Hartford, New York  •  3 months ago
    GOD BLESS THIS WOMAN!!..if you wanna call it doing her job..or being a hero..doesnt matter...any way you put this..SHE SAVED LIVES!!..WHILE UNDER PRESSURE!!..nowhere in the employee handbook does it explain how to stay calm under those conditions..it doesnt explain how to gather every single one of your thoughts and put them in order in time to get children to safety..that takes a special person..she shouldve been the Captain of the cruise ship that went down..she has bigger balls than Captain Schetino!!...you can transport my kids to school any day of the week!!..
  • Bobby
    Bobby  •  3 months ago
    Just as Lindora Richardson said herself, "I'm no hero. … I was just doing my job."
    She followed safety protocol and saved lives.
    What is truly respectable that she was a human being that understood the responsibility she had as a bus driver enough to know safety protocol and how to properly execute it under the situation.
    She did her job. That statement alone is becoming so rarely that people who do their jobs are regarded as heroes.
    That all being said, she deserves respect.
  • Catwoman
    Catwoman  •  Grand Rapids, Michigan  •  3 months ago
    may God bless her.
  • Iron Jam
    Iron Jam  •  Orange, California  •  3 months ago
    I would love to be her when someone in the future goes, "It's not like you've ever saved kids from a burning bus...."
  • Bobbie Kaye
    Bobbie Kaye  •  San Mateo, California  •  3 months ago
    The real heroes are the ones who don't even realize they are!

    Great job, Ms. Richardson!
  • Michelle
    Michelle  •  Carlisle, Pennsylvania  •  3 months ago
    She makes how much LESS than capt. chicken#$%^ of the sea but wouldn't leave anyone on the bus? A true living angel :)
  • IVCOHOME
    IVCOHOME  •  Atlanta, Georgia  •  3 months ago
    Somtimes doing your job makes you a hero. Thank you for doing your job.
  • JoniD
    JoniD  •  Tupper Lake, New York  •  3 months ago
    You Are a HERO!! God Bless you.
  • mean mama
    mean mama  •  3 months ago
    good to see a few good bus driver left... did they ever upgraded the school bus seating to be nonflamable?
  • Guardian
    Guardian  •  3 months ago
    Thank God Everyone was alright. The Driver is the real hero. I am happy that all children including the bus driver are safe. Now to get a new bus with good wiring and comfortable seats for kids.
  • Bob
    Bob  •  San Luis Obispo, California  •  3 months ago
    Great job! From a former busdriver! That is what all busdrivers are trained to do is stay calm and make sure the children are first off the bus! You should be up for busdriver of the year!
  • heartofdragon
    heartofdragon  •  3 months ago
    Good to see a story with a happy ending for a change. She is a hero while doing her job and a mighty fine job at that. God Bless.
  • Paul
    Paul  •  Los Angeles, California  •  3 months ago
    People who are labeled a hero almost never admit to being one. It's always I was just doing my job or anyone else would have done the same but in the eyes of those children and their families and their loved ones you are their hero. I can guarantee that nothing you say or do will ever change their minds. Good job Lindora Richardson you are a hero.
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