Paramedics respond to school bus driver with medical issue

WASILLA — A bus driver suffering from a medical issue drew a large response from Mat-Su Borough emergency personnel on Friday afternoon in Wasilla.

According to Alaska State Troopers on the scene, the bus was making one of its last stops of the day near the corner of Shenandoah Drive and Hickory Street when the driver became incapacitated. Troopers said the bus was stopped at the time of the incident.

The first emergency responder to arrive at the scene — Mat-Su Central Fire Department captain John Beebe — had to forcibly remove the driver from the bus. After a brief wrestling match, the bus driver appeared disoriented as paramedics explained to him that he was having a medical emergency. Paramedics quickly calmed the driver down and he was eventually loaded into an ambulance. He appeared to be alert and talking with paramedics when he was placed in the ambulance before being driven to the hospital.

Mat-Su Borough School District safety and emergency preparedness coordinator Joe Schmidt said seven elementary school students were on the bus when the incident occurred. He said all were accounted for and released to their parents.

"They're all home safe," Schmidt said.

Troopers at the scene had no further information about the driver's condition.