'A true soldier': Internet hails bus driver Kia Rousseve for saving lives of 8 children in New Orleans

NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA: Internet has hailed a school bus driver as a hero after she saved the lives of eight children in New Orleans. According to NOLA.com, CBS-affiliate WWL-TV and Fox-affiliate WVUE-TV, Kia Rousseve, 28, was driving through the Central City neighborhood, en route to Lafayette Academy shortly after 7 am on March 13 when she noticed her bus began to smoke and was losing power. 

“I seen the smoke and then a little girl came and told me the bus was on fire underneath,” Rousseve told WVUE-TV, adding “I got them off.”

Kia Rousseve said the bus blew off

Rousseve quickly ushered the students from kindergarten through eighth grade off the bus after bringing the vehicle to a halt. “I turned the bus off and got off,” Rousseve told the station, adding "When I got off, the bus blew up. All I heard was, 'Boom, boom, boom.' I was like, 'Oh my God, the bus blew up.'"

Kia Rousseve relied on her motherly instinct

Rousseve, who has been a bus driver for three years and has worked for Community Academies of New Orleans (CANO) since February, recalled to NOLA.com that she relied on her motherly instinct during the incident. "My instinct is like, 'No, this is not normal.' My instinct was like, 'Pull the bus over,'" Rousseve told NOLA.com.

Now, according to WWL-TV, Rousseve’s actions are being lauded by her supervisor. "Her ability to stay calm in the face of danger, ensuring not a single child came to harm is nothing short of heroic,” her supervisor said in a statement obtained by the station. CANO called the bus driver’s actions “courage on wheels,” per WVUE-TV.

The harrowing moment will certainly not be easy for Rousseve to forget but she also takes pride in her quick-thinking during the ordeal. “I feel great about saving other kids’ lives and saving my life,” Rousseve told WVUE-TV.

Internet lauds Kia Rousseve for her heroic effort

Soon after the news broke out, people took to Internet to praise the courageous bus driver for her heroic act. "A true soldier", complemented one user while another commented, "Great job kia hope everyone is ok." "Well done Excellent servant of children!!", wrote one and another said, "Thank God they are all okay! Awesome job Kia!". 

"I’m so proud of her and happy that everyone is ok", echoed another user. 

This article contains remarks made on the Internet by individual people and organizations. MEAWW cannot confirm them independently and does not support claims or opinions being made online.