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This Hero Saved 42 People From A Burning Bus
A young, aspiring Sheriff's deputy became a hero Sunday night when he saved 42 people from a burning bus. Jesse Hernandez, a National Guard reservist and a custody assistant with the L.A. County Sheriff's Department, was headed to work at the North County Correctional Facility on Sunday at about 8:30 p.m. when he noticed something odd. A charter bus was stopped across two lanes on the westbound 60 Freeway near the Hacienda Boulevard exit, NBC LA reports. As he approached, he spotted flames coming from the rear engine compartment and quickly pulled over, jumped out of his car and ran to the bus. Inside the smoke-filled bus, he saw the passengers were "frantically hitting and kicking the exit door, which appeared to be stuck, trapping everyone inside," a release from the LASD said.
He was able to force the door open, allowing the passengers and driver to escape unharmed. Then, Hernandez went into the bus himself to check for anyone who may have still been on board. No one was seriously hurt in the incident.
Hernandez has worked with the department since 2012, and one day hopes to one day become a sheriff's deputy.
Custody assistant saves 42 people trapped on burning charter bus in Hacienda Heights: LASD https://t.co/4LrssHS1Gn pic.twitter.com/DjVj7ZhQVL
— KTLA (@KTLA) October 20, 2015
#LASD Custody Assistant Saves 42 people Trapped Inside Burning Bus, #HaciendaHeights https://t.co/b0RiwSnBwW pic.twitter.com/6Yuqw9mmBJ
— LA County Sheriffs (@LASDHQ) October 20, 2015