FARR WEST, Weber County — A school bus driver is being called a hero for her actions following an accident on I-15 Wednesday afternoon that saved nearly 50 students and adults from injury or death but claimed her own life.
Killed was:
Jeneal Stevens, 49, Garland, Box Elder County.
Stevens was driving students, players and coaches from the Bear River High School basketball team from Tremonton to Ogden High School Wednesday afternoon, Utah Highway Patrol trooper Cody Wilder said. There were 50 people on the bus, including one of Stevens' daughters.
Just before 2:45 p.m. the bus came upon traffic that had slowed down near Farr West due to an accident.
In an effort to avoid rear-ending a semitrailer truck, Stevens tried to quickly switch lanes. "So she had to take evasive action," UHP Sgt. Doug McCleve said.
As she quickly switched lanes, she clipped another semitrailer that was hauling metal trusses. One of the trusses went through the windshield and struck Stevens in the head.
The bus continued off the side of the road going down an embankment and crashing through a chain-link fence, aluminum bleachers and small trees before coming to rest between two large trees.
Wilder said Steven managed to keep the bus from hitting the trees by maneuvering between them.
Another bus took the basketball team to its game. When the team left Stevens, she was still alive. She died at McKay-Dee Hospital, McCleve said.
Another student received minor injuries, Wilder said.
"We find her (Stevens) to be a hero," Wilder said. "We want her family to know that we commend her for maneuvering to avoid the trees and everything else that saved lives."
A crisis team was at Bear River High School Thursday morning. Principal Dale Thomas said most of the kids who were at school were handling the tragedy well. But he said some of the kids who were on the bus decided to stay home today.
A spokesman for the Box Elder School District said Stevens began driving buses for the district in 1992. She also worked as a substitute teacher at Bear River High and Bear River Middle School.
She is survived by her husband, Frank, and 10 children including two sets of twins. Frank Stevens is the coach of the Bear River High School girl's softball team.