'Hero' Mille Lacs bus driver recalls quick actions that likely saved lives

(FOX 9) - A school bus driver is being hailed a hero after averting a crash with a semi-truck on Wednesday morning.

It happened in Mille Lacs County; two students were checked out for minor injuries.

School bus driver a hero

What we know:

On board the Onamia school bus was a kindergartner, a 3rd, 4th, and 7th grader along with three paraprofessionals. The bus driver, Brian Lathrop, won’t take credit for his heroic act, but everyone else thinks otherwise.

"If he would have hit me head-on, I probably wouldn't have survived," said Lathrop.

A split-second decision that saved lives.

"He started to come over the line a little bit. Then it looked like he went back into his lane, and then all of a sudden, he just veered to the left and was heading straight for me," said Lathrop.

The tractor-trailer veered into the path of the school bus. Thinking quickly, Lathrop moved into the other lane. The semi ended up sideswiping the rear passenger side of the bus.

"I figured I'd go into his lane, try to get around him, see if I couldn't avoid him, and he ended up going right down the side of my bus," said Lathrop.

Just doing a job…

What they're saying:

"I actually give a lot of props to my three bus paras that I had. I don't think I could have done it without them," said Lathrop.

Lathrop is just focusing on the lives saved.

"I don't feel that. I'm a hero. I was just doing my job and, you know, trying to protect as many lives as I could," said Lathrop.

Being honored

What's next:

Lathrop will be recognized at the next Onamia school board meeting. He may not see himself as a hero, but the school district and law enforcement do.