The North Plainfield teens say stopping the bus was a team effort.
SOMERVILLE -- The three students who worked together to stop an out-of-control school bus on Route 22 in February were honored by the Somerset County Freeholders on Tuesday and given an emotional, heartfelt thanks by the bus driver who suffered a medical emergency during the incident.
Gavin Costello, 15, Angelo Mel-Tos, 18, and Kala Wright, 15, all of North Plainfield, were presented citations by Freeholders Director Patricia Walsh during a ceremony in the Freeholders Conference Room before an overflow crowd that included many local dignitaries. All three go to Somerset County Vocational Technical High School in Bridgewater and where on there way to school when the incident happened.
Bridgewater Mayor Daniel Hayes and Police Chief Manuel Caravela also presented Civilian Awards to the students. Two weeks ago, the students were honored by the North Plainfield Board of Education.
"I simply want to say I'm so glad, happy and appreciative of the help the students rendered onto me," said bus driver Roy Davis. "All I remember is picking the kids up and driving on Route 22. I pray to God everyday. God was with us that day and blessed us that day."
Davis, who is on leave from his job with the Somerset County Educational Service Commission bus company, has declined to speak about the medical emergency he suffered. He missed the North Bridge Street exit off Route 22 and his bus began swerving down Route 22 when the students sprang into action.
"Everyone wants to be a hero, even in some small way, but everyone can be one," said Walsh. ""Gavin, Angelo and Kala have demonstrated that they have the courage to think quickly and take immediate action to help others during an emergency. It would not surprise me if we were to hear more about these three young leaders in the future."
The school bus was a little bit late on the morning of Feb. 10, and when it arrived students learned they had a substitute driver, said Mel-tos. The bus, carrying approximately 28 students, was traveling on Route 22 West at 7:35 a.m. when the driver missed the North Bridge Street exit and the drama began to unfold.
Wright, sitting up front, was the first to notice that something was wrong with the bus driver, that he was unsteady. The bus was swerving and his eyes were fluttering.
"We all did it as a team," said Wright, a freshman in the Law and Public Safety program who was selected as the school's Student of the Month for February. "I was sitting up front and realized that everyone's life was in danger, including mine."
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Mel-tos, who was also sitting in the front of the bus, said at first he and Costello thought the bus driver was lost. Costello pulled out a map and tried to give the bus driver directions but he wouldn't listen, said Mel-tos.
As the bus continued to swerve heading west on Route 22 towards Branchburg, the pair realized they had to act.
When the bus was about to run a red light near an intersection at Country Road, Costello grabbed the emergency brake and then put the bus in park in the middle of the intersection. Mel-tos turned off the ignition. Students immediately began to file out of the bus.
Once police arrived, the bus driver was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Somerset in Somerville.
"It feels great to be recognized and appreciated," said Costello, a freshman in the school's welding program. "It started out small in a couple of towns and now we're here. A lot of people are thanking me and congratulating me."
Mel-Tos is a senior in the Graphic Communications program.
"I've talked to so many people," he said. "It feels good. But it was just the right thing to do at the time. We wanted to stop the bus driver before he hurt himself or hurt others."
In addition to Walsh, Freeholders Mark Caliguire, Brian Levine and Peter Palmer were in attendance, as well as North Plainfield Mayor Michael Giordano, Bridgewater Mayor Daniel Hayes and Bridgewater Police Chief Manuel Caravela, North Plainfield School District School Superintendent Juan Torres and Somerset County Vocational, Technical School Superintendent Dr. Chrys Harttraft and Education and Services Commission Superintendent Hal Dunsavage.
"These students acted on one of the busiest highways in Somerset County," said Walsh.
Dave Hutchinson may be reached at dhutchinson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DHutch_SL. Find NJ.com on Facebook.