KANSAS CITY, Mo. — It's a situation D'Anthony Gilden never experienced, let alone expected.
But it's one he now thinks about constantly.
"I really do. I think about the kids and the what ifs and what could have happened," he said.
Last month, Gilden was driving his normal bus route taking 30 Hickman Mills Elementary School students home when he noticed smoke coming from the bottom engine compartment. Within seconds, the smoke turned black and flames engulfed the entire school bus.
"I yelled to the back and told one of the older kids to open up the emergency door," he said. "I was checking the seats going back from the fire, going towards the fire."
Gilden remained on the bus until all of the students were safely off. No one was hurt.
At the time, witnesses told 41 Action News he was a "hero," carrying backpacks on his arm while trying to get the students off the bus as quick as possible.
Thursday night, the Hickman Mills School Board surprised Gilden with multiple awards.
"Our school we are very gracious to have people who care about our students. We have them throughout the school day, but the bus is an extension of our school day and having people to be there and care about our kids the way that we do is absolutely amazing," said interim principal Erica Thomas.
