BELLEVUE, Wash. – What could have turned into a devastating tragedy ended in relief thanks to the quick thinking of a school bus driver and two coaches. While transporting the North Creek High School girls basketball team to a game, bus driver Stewart O’Leary was struck in the chest by a piece of metal that smashed through the windshield.
The projectile, believed to be a metal bar or possibly a leaf spring from another vehicle, pierced the front of the bus with terrifying force. It struck O’Leary squarely in the chest, leaving him stunned, bruised, and covered in shattered glass. Despite the sudden impact, he refused to let panic take control.
According to authorities, O’Leary managed to keep the bus steady and guided it safely onto the shoulder of the road. Two coaches riding with the team rushed forward to assist, ensuring that the bus carrying the student athletes came to a full, secure stop. Not a single student was injured.
Emergency services transported O’Leary to a nearby hospital, where he was treated for a severe chest bruise and cuts from broken glass. Doctors later confirmed he had avoided life-threatening injuries, a fact that left both parents and school officials deeply relieved. Remarkably, O’Leary returned to work less than a week later, praised by colleagues and community members as a hero.
“This could have ended very differently,” one Bellevue police spokesperson said. “The driver’s composure under pressure, along with the assistance of the coaches, prevented a serious disaster.”
The incident has raised questions about road safety and the risks posed by flying debris, particularly large mechanical parts from trucks or other vehicles. Transportation experts note that detached leaf springs and similar heavy components have been involved in multiple highway accidents across the country.
For the families of the basketball team, gratitude outweighs the fear of what might have been. As one parent shared: “Stewart O’Leary didn’t just do his job that day—he protected our daughters’ lives.”