photo by: Joselyn King

Ohio County Schools Director of Operations David Crumm, left, introduces bus driver Pam Bowman before Ohio County Board of Education members. Bowman was recognized by the board for her efforts to safely remove a bus full of band students from the road after a tire blew out.

WHEELING — Ohio County Schools officials praised one of its bus drivers this week for her “expertise, skills and quick thinking” to avoid an accident when a tire blew out during a band trip to Pittsburgh last month.

The situation occurred on Oct. 18 between the Taylorstown and Chestnut Street exits in Washington County along Interstate 70 East, according to David Crumm, director of operations for Ohio County Schools.

He detailed the incident to board of education members this past week.

Crumm explained the Wheeling Park High School band was on its way to a competition near Pittsburgh, and he was out of town when he received a call from the transportation office telling him help was needed. One of the buses on the trip had blown a tire.

The bus driver, Pam Bowman, had done her regular check before heading out on the trip, and all buses in the district are subject to regular maintenance, Crumm said.

“But for whatever reason on this day, the back right outside tire decided to blow up and explode,” he said.

This caused the bus to start to swerve in multiple directions, Crumm continued.

Bowman’s bus was one of five vehicles on the trip, including three buses transporting people, a band truck and a box truck.

“Pam was able to guide this bus full of band students, chaperones, teachers and herself over to the left side of the road without any harm to any one of our students,” he said.

Crumm said calls went out to mechanics and other drivers to go to the scene.

In the end, another bus driver took over the trip so Bowman could return home and “relax” following the incident.

Crumm described Bowman as someone who often comes into his office to ask, “How’s it going boss? Got any kids for me?”

Bowman most often transports students at Our Lady of Peace, St. Vincent and St. Michael parish schools, and also steps up to take students on trips when needed, Crum continued.

“Pam, thank you from Ohio County Schools, the operations center, and the parents of the students on the bus,” he told her. “The chaperones were very thankful for your skills and how you handled the bus that day.”

Bowman thanked the board for recognizing her efforts as a driver.

“It’s not always easy – I was just worried about my kids,” she said. “It’s not an easy job, but I love what I do and I am very proud to be a part of this team.

“If it hadn’t been for my other drivers, I don’t know if I would have made it through this. So kudos for the other drivers that were with me.”

They responded quickly, she said.

“I did what I was trained to do. I didn’t overreact. I just prayed as I was going down the road,” Bowman told board members. “We do a lot of different things out there every day. I’m just glad my kids were good, and that they got to the competition.

“They actually won the competition, and everyone got home safe that day,” she said.