Detective Sgt. Scott Mick and Beaver Local Schools bus driver Kasie Stevenson with the commendations awarded to them by Police Chief Brian McKenzie, St. Clair Township Police Department, for their actions during a crash. (Photo by Kristi R. Garabrandt)

ST. CLAIR TOWNSHIP — St. Clair Township Police Chief Brian McKenzie surprised Beaver Local Schools bus driver Kasie Stevenson and Detective Sgt. Scott Mick with commendations for their above and beyond actions during the March 26 crash where one of the district’s school buses transporting students was struck by a car on state Route 7 while stopped to pick up students.

McKenzie who presented the commendations at the St. Clair Township Board of Trustees meeting started his presentation by saying a lot of times in an officer’s or first responder’s line of work there are sometimes things that happen that are not very common and it’s how the situations are handled that set people apart.

He then said that he was awarding the commendation to Stevenson in recognition of her demonstration “of outstanding professionalism, courage and unwavering commitment to student safety during the critical school bus accident on March 26.”

He went on to say that her quick thinking and calm demeanor and decisive action ensured the protection and well-being of all students under her care and her dedication to prioritizing safety above all else exemplified the highest standards of responsibility and service in which she demonstrated exceptional character and integrity when it mattered most.

McKenzie said Stevenson was being thanked for her remarkable efforts and being a true role model to students in transportation safety.

Stevenson was not aware that she was going to be recognized for her actions as she was told she needed to come in and answer some questions so she would be surprised.

“It’s all I keep hearing is how I did a good job and how I stayed calm. All I told everybody was that was all I know how to do,” she said.

She noted that she tells her kids all the time that the first thing they need to do in any situation is not panic and that she practiced what she preached.

McKenzie told her she did not panic, and she did an awesome job.

Stevenson responded saying, “it’s not just me, it’s everyone.” She went on to say that she wished she could thank everybody that showed up because it wasn’t just her, but everybody that was there and that even the kids did an excellent job.

Beaver Local Schools Superintendent Eric Lowe said when he watched the video of the accident, he thought the it could be used for training from start to finish on what a person should do with the kids on the bus and how to handle the situation.

“Definitely remain calm, and people trying to help and her recognizing maybe it wasn’t the moment to do certain things yet and telling the kids how to handle themselves because also unsure of what was going on behind due to the severity of the accident,” Lowe said. “I don’t know that many folks would act that way in that moment and she definitely did.”

McKenzie said that as he watched the video, he saw Stevenson keep telling the kids that she needed them to look at her, so she knew they were OK to keep their attention focused to the front since the accident was behind them.

McKenzie then presented Mick with a commendation for the exceptional professionalism and compassion he demonstrated at the scene of the accident.

“In a moment of urgency and distress you placed yourself inside a severely damaged vehicle to provide comfort and reassurance to an injured driver,” McKenzie told Mick. “Your calm presence and steady demeanor helped ease fear and panic during a critical time, reflecting the highest standards of public service and human empathy. Your actions exemplify dedication beyond duty and serve as a powerful reminder of the impact of courage paired with compassion. The care you showed not only supported an injured individual but also brought dignity and humanity to a difficult situation.”

He went on to say the recognition was presented for his outstanding service and unwavering commitment to the well-being of others.

Mick went on to praise Stevenson for her calmness and the way she was able to keep the kids under control during the ordeal.

Mick who helped coordinate the fire departments and ambulance on the scene said he step back and looked at the young man in the car.

A tearful Mick said, “He was alone and I thought at that time what would I want, so I climb in there and talked to him, held his hand, explained everything that was going on step by step, because he was blind and the metal crunching and twisting, glass breaking, he was terrified. He had multiple broken bones, he was bleeding.”

He said the driver kept asking him to please not let him die, and he told him he was not going to let him die on his shift.

Mick went to say it was a small thing he did with the paramedics, the fire department, other police officers and Beaver Local Staff were all there and while he may have done a small thing it was everybody else that was there that made it a team effort.

Mick also said It’s a blessing that the driver did come home from the hospital a few days ago.

Lowe said he was at the scene the entire time and that Mick could not have done any better job and that if he was in that situation or had a loved one in that type of situation, he would consider it a blessing to have someone do what Mick did the whole time being by the person and walking them through what was happening when they couldn’t see.

“I can’t imagine a more scary situation. I felt like he went above and beyond not as an officer but a mutual aid type thing, being there,” Lowe said.

Trustee Robert Swickard said a few days after the accident Jeremiah Cole of Lifeteam called and could not say enough about how Mick went above and beyond by holding the IV bag for the driver while crews worked on extricating the driver from the car.

Mick said receiving the commendation made him feel good that he was recognized for doing something that helped another human being because he does care.

“I don’t do this job for praise,” Mick said. “I truly come to work every day to help the public and hope that as my eight hours go, I’m able to go home having done something good for the community.”

Stevenson said of the commendation that it means more than one can think, but it’s also something hard to take in, because she was just doing her job.

Kgarabrandt@mojonews.com