One Longview man has been hailed as a hero for saving a bus driver’s life after he was suddenly attacked with a knife while driving. Mayor Kristen Ishihara and the city council recognized Corey Street’s actions and dubbed him a hero at a recent meeting.
“To watch someone physically pick up someone and remove them for the safety of someone, I just thought my gosh. And so he is a hero,” Ishihara said, according to KLTV.
READ ALSO: Ohio school bus driver who rescued over a dozen students from burning bus speaks out
RELATED STORIES
On May 31, an everyday bus ride erupted into a commotion forcing Longview resident and bus passenger Street to make a split-second decision.
According to Street, he saw another passenger acting aggressively when he boarded the bus after work. It started with yelling at the bus driver. This exchange, he added, drew his attention as he noticed it was intensifying.
However, things took a turn for the worse than he could expect.
“The bus driver saw a police officer beside us, so he was honking honking honking, but the officer never saw him. So that’s when the suspect said, ‘you thought he was going to save you?’” Street recalled.
In a video, the man is seen grabbing a knife and battling with the driver before Street grabs him. He pulls the man to the door, motions for the driver to open it, and then tosses the man off the bus.
“That was like a TV moment, when you see someone going crazy like that, and you are wondering who’s going to make the next move or do anything. Seems like I just had to do something at the time just to protect the bus driver,” Street said.
READ ALSO: Another bus driver praised for buying pajamas for boy who had none to wear for Pajama Day
The man who attacked the bus driver, Esteban Daniel Pitman, has since been arrested. He is presently being held on charges of aggravated assault with a deadly weapon at the Gregg County Jail.
Meanwhile, Street said that he still intends to ride the bus and would do it all again.
“Yes, sir, I just got off the bus and am prepared if it ever has to happen again. Hopefully, it won’t ever have to happen again,” said Street.
All in all, he remains modest about the incident. He said, “I mean, I don’t consider myself a hero; I just tried to help somebody at the time.”
READ ALSO: Bus driver hailed as hero for saving passengers while suffering fatal heart attack
