Clear Creek ISD bus driver credits student with helping her avoid accident

LEAGUE CITY, TX (KTRK) -- A Clear Creek ISD bus driver is crediting an elementary school student with helping her avoid an accident.

Judy Steele calls 9-year-old Dae'reon Durham her "little hero."

Durham is a fourth grader at Ralph Parr Elementary School in League City. He, along with almost 50 other students, were on-board the Clear Creek ISD bus on August 23 headed home.

Steele says all of a sudden near the corner of West Galveston and Pecan, she almost passed out behind the wheel.

She says the heat had gotten to her.

"I had dropped some kids off. I looked up. When I looked back down, everything just kind of started to spin. I grabbed the wheel, put the brake on, and pulled the air brake. I kind of leaned forward to see if I could get cool from the fan," said Steele. "Next thing I know, here was Dae'reon. He stood directly beside me and looked back. He was keeping all the kids in line. He's my little hero."

Steele said Durham patted her back, kept her awake, and alerted adults at a nearby bus stop to call 911.

She spent two days in the hospital. Doctors treated her for heat exhaustion, a sinus infection, and vertigo.

Durham told abc13 he just wanted to make sure his bus driver was okay.

"Ms. Judy was at the wheel. She had a lot of sweat on her face," he said. "I care about people I want to know if they're all right."