Junior high students called heroes

Erica Johnson

Monday, June 4, 2001 | 10:51 a.m.

Four eighth-grade boys at Greenspun Junior High School know what it's like to be called heroes.

Their school called them that last week for their bravery after a truck hit a school bus, igniting the rear of the bus.

DeShon Polk, Sylvester St. Cyr, Fernando Chavez and Brent Stockhausen said they were sitting in the back of the school bus May 24 when the bus was rear-ended by a pickup at the intersection of Pebble and Pecos roads.

The bus had slowed down to make a turn, Henderson police spokeswoman Valerie Klein said, when the truck sped into its back bumper. The pickup's engine caught fire, and the flames spread to the back of the bus.

The truck driver, who police say ran away after the collision, was later charged with leaving the scene of an accident, Klein said.

When the bus driver couldn't get the front door open, Polk said, he and St. Cyr directed their fellow students to the emergency exit in the center of the bus.

"The emergency exit was stuck, so Sylvester and I had to kick it to get it open," Polk said. "Kids started to panic, and the next thing I knew we were helping people off the bus."

The panic worsened, Stockhausen said, when students on the bus saw an oily puddle of liquid forming underneath the truck. They feared the bus would explode, he said, and total chaos ensued.

"When I got out of the bus, I saw some girls about to jump out of the window," Stockhausen said. "I caught two of them. Later, they hugged me and said I was their hero."

Then Stockhausen and Chavez ran to a nearby church and came back with a fire extinguisher. By then, Chavez said, the fire was too big. Police and fire crews soon arrived and put out the blaze.

According to police, one child was taken to a local hospital. No other children were hurt.

The boys said they were met with hugs and high fives when they arrived at school the next day.

"It was cool," St. Cyr said. "Everyone was asking us what happened. It was like our popularity instantly went up."

The boys said they don't feel like heroes, though. Chavez, who said he has been in accidents before, said he knew not to panic.

"I don't feel like it's really a big deal," he said. "I just got a fire extinguisher."

Polk and Stockhausen, who said they were shaken up by the accident, said they just consider themselves good citizens who thought fast under pressure.

"Hero is a strong word," St. Cyr said. "We didn't save anyone, we just helped."

Polk, St. Cyr, Chavez and Stockhausen were recognized for their courage Thursday at Greenspun's annual awards night, where they received a standing ovation from parents and students. More than 130 departmental and principal's awards were given out and more than 150 students were inducted into the National Junior Honor Society.

"The boys were very brave and courageous," Greenspun Principal Viola Washington said. "It made me think that they'd come from good homes where they were taught to be helpful and to never be selfish. We're extremely proud of them."