A Texan bus driver turned into a local hero recently after his quick thinking helped protect a whole bus load of schoolchildren. Crosby Independent School District bus driver Dave Cooke’s wit and bravery kept the kids safe from a crazed stranger who tried to board the bus and potentially cause harm. The woman was out of control and hurling insults and threats as she got on.

Cooke used his own body as a shield to stop the erratic and dangerous stranger from getting on and had to forcibly eject her, restrain her and called the police.

“I made the decision that nobody that doesn’t have permission is going to get above that top step no matter what it takes,” Cooke told local reporters. “Somebody asked me once ‘are these just kids on your bus?’ Well, not to me – they’re more like a family to me.”

25 million US kids a day use the big yellow school bus drivers. Let’s hope there are plenty of David Cookes behind the wheel…