Category: Mississippi News

Hancock Middle School Students Stop Runaway Bus After Driver Passes Out

Five Hancock Middle School students sprang into action Wednesday afternoon, stopping a runaway bus after their driver passed out at the wheel. Their calm response and teamwork are being celebrated as they prepare to be honored at a school pep rally.

• Five students from Hancock Middle School in Mississippi took quick action to stop a runaway school bus Wednesday afternoon.

• The bus driver, Leah Taylor, suffered a medical emergency and passed out behind the wheel.

• Students grabbed the steering wheel, hit the brakes, called 911, and administered medication until help arrived.

• The driver credits the students with saving her life and is now feeling better.

• The students will be honored at a school pep rally on Friday.

HANCOCK COUNTY, Miss. — Five Hancock Middle School students stopped a runaway school bus Wednesday afternoon after their driver passed out behind the wheel.

The students made split-second decisions that bus driver Leah Taylor said saved her life. “I had a medical emergency, and the students stepped up when I passed out driving the bus,” Taylor said.

Sixth-grader McKenzy Finch described the moment the driver suddenly fell over. “She kind of like fell over like flopped over and everyone started like standing up,” Finch said.

Sixth-grader Jackson Casnave grabbed the wheel as the bus began veering off to the side. “I saw that the bus was veering off to the side then I grabbed the wheel,” Casnave said.

Sixth-grader Darrius Clark hit the brakes when the bus started gaining speed. “And then, so she passed out again and then the bus started rolling forward, and I mean it started gaining speed so I didn’t know it had air brakes so when I clicked the brakes it about threw me out the windshield,” Clark said.

Eighth-grader Kayleigh Clark called 911, while eighth-grader Destiny Cornelius administered medication to the driver. “I saw her medication in her hand, and I saw her reaching for it, I knew that’s what she needed,” Cornelius said.

The students worked together until first responders arrived. Hancock Middle School Principal Dr. Melissa Saucier praised their composure. “You know, I’m not surprised to hear that our kids remained calm and acted swiftly. This emergency situation could have definitely been detrimental. And they handled it exactly how they should have. And we’re extremely proud of them,” Saucier said.

Taylor said she is back to normal and feeling better. “I’m very proud of them. I couldn’t ask for any of my other students than my students on my bus. I love every single one of them,” Taylor said. “I’m gonna think of how they saved my life.”

The students will be recognized for their actions at a school pep rally Friday.

In a moment of crisis, these five middle school students showed remarkable bravery and teamwork, turning a potentially tragic situation into a story of heroism. Their quick thinking not only stopped the bus but also helped save their driver’s life, earning them well-deserved recognition from their school and community.

 ‘Betrayal of Trust’: Mississippi School Resource Officer Arrested After Hidden Camera Found in Girls’ Bathroom

A Jackson County Sheriff’s deputy is facing felony charges after a hidden camera was discovered in a girls’ bathroom at East Central High School. Here’s what we know about the investigation and the “betrayal of trust” described by local authorities.

Summary:

• A Jackson County Sheriff’s Deputy has been arrested and terminated following a disturbing discovery at East Central High School.

• A hidden camera was found inside a girls’ restroom, leading to an immediate investigation by local authorities.

• The suspect, identified as a veteran deputy and School Resource Officer, faces multiple felony charges.

• School officials and the Sheriff’s Department are working to determine the extent of the recording and if other devices were present.

A community in Jackson County, Mississippi, is reeling tonight after a shocking discovery inside a local high school. What was supposed to be a safe environment for students has become the center of a criminal investigation. A man hired and trusted to protect the student body is now behind bars, accused of using his position of authority to violate the privacy of the very children he was sworn to keep safe.

The investigation began Monday at East Central High School when a student discovered a hidden recording device inside one of the girls’ bathrooms. According to the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department, the device was immediately turned over to school administration, who then contacted law enforcement.

The suspect has been identified as a long-time deputy who was serving as the school’s Resource Officer. Sheriff John Ledbetter did not mince words in a statement released to the media, calling the incident a “total betrayal of trust” to the community, the school district, and the badge.

Following the discovery, the deputy was immediately terminated from the force and taken into custody. Investigators spent hours on campus conducting a sweep of the facility to ensure no other devices were planted in private areas. At this stage, authorities are forensicly examining the recovered device to determine how much footage was captured and if any images were shared or uploaded online.

The suspect is currently being held at the Jackson County Adult Detention Center facing felony counts of video voyeurism. The school district has confirmed they are cooperating fully with the Sheriff’s Department and are providing counseling services for students and parents shaken by the news. As this investigation unfolds, the focus remains on the privacy and safety of the students involved. We will continue to bring you the latest updates as we learn more from the Jackson County Sheriff’s Department.