PITTSBURGH — A Megabus traveling from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh nearly crashed Monday on the Pennsylvania Turnpike after the driver suffered a medical emergency and became ill while driving.
Stefon Braxton, who was on board at the time, said the bus started going off the road and into other lanes between Bedford and Carlisle about 6 p.m. Monday.
A truck driver laid on his horn to alert the passengers that the driver looked like she had passed out.
“It was pretty scary for a while,” Braxton said. “We just kept feeling the bus swaying from side to side."
As the bus was going out of control, Braxton said two truck drivers blocked the bus from going off the road, while a fellow passenger grabbed control of the wheel.
“It would hit and bounce back a little bit. They kept us from swaying more,” Braxton said. “When you look out the window the truck was right there. This is how close they were to us.”
Megabus officials said the bus never made actual contact with the trucks.
"Though some claims have been made that two trucks were involved in the incident, a review of interior and exterior video shows that the Megabus made no contact with a semi. There is also no physical evidence of contact on the exterior of the bus,” Megabus officials said.
“These two guys really saved our lives. After we got off to the side, they just drove off. So I just wanted to let them know we thank you,” Braxton said.
Megabus officials also said, although it was previously reported that the driver passed out, she did not.
"Additionally, the video shows that the Megabus driver remained conscious throughout with both hands on the steering wheel. We are extremely grateful to the quick-thinking passenger who assisted her by holding on to the steering wheel and guiding the bus with her to safety," a Megabus representative said.
Officials said the passenger who took the wheel was a young Pittsburgh preacher who just recently earned his CDL license.
“He jumped into the seat and actually sat on the driver’s lap and took control of the wheel,” Braxton said. “Once he got the steering wheel, the other passengers got the driver out of her seat.”
No injuries were reported in the incident.
“A relief driver was brought to the location, and drove the bus and passengers to their destination," A Megabus representative said.
The driver’s name has not been released.
"The driver who took ill is doing well and will receive further checks from the doctor,” the representative said. “Safety is our absolute priority and, as a matter of course, we are investigating the incident. We apologize to Megabus passengers for the disruption to their trip."