TODAY   |  April 10, 2012

Students steer out-of-control school bus to safety

After the driver of their school bus lost consciousness behind the wheel, two seventh grade boys from Milton, Washington, sprung to action, steering the vehicle – and other students – to safety. NBC’s Natalie Morales has more details.

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NATALIE MORALES, anchor: And two seventh grade boys in Milton , Washington , are being hailed as heroes. When their bus driver lost consciousness behind the wheel, they then sprung to action. Thirteen-year-old Jeremy Wuitschick ran up, grabbed the wheel, steering it to safety and performing chest compressions on the driver.

Mr. JEREMY WUITSCHICK: I grabbed the wheel, he was big and I wrestled, I turned it to the right, and it took on the side of the road , took the keys out of the ignition, the bus started slowing down, I'm like oh, someone call 911. And I was just thinking about I don't want to die.

MORALES: And another student helped bring the bus to a stop, and others called 911. No students were hurt. The driver was hospitalized. Now, in case you're wondering how a 13-year-old knows his way around a steering wheel , well, his little secret is out with mom. Apparently she lets him move the car around the driveway to give it a wash. But he says shh, don't tell his dad.

DAVID GREGORY, co-host: Wow.

MORALES: We would never do that.

GREGORY: Mm-mm.

MORALES: I think dad would be proud of him, actually, in this case.

ANN CURRY, co-host: Well, I think now he's told the world.

MORALES: Absolutely. There you go.

GREGORY: Yeah, good experience, though, right? That's for sure.