By FireRescue1 Staff
PENSACOLA, Fla. — A fire captain who responded to a fatal bus crash has formed a strong bond with one of the injured passengers.
WKRG reported that Capt. Brandon Thompson, who responded to the scene of a bus that crashed while carrying 40 band students back to Texas after a Disney World trip, has been visiting Channelview band director Aaron Allison in the hospital after he was injured in the crash.
“He helped the rescuers,” Capt. Thompson said. “I’d have to say Aaron Allison is my hero. He’s probably one of the strongest men I know.”
Thompson said he stayed with Allison at the hospital for three hours after he was airlifted from the scene.
“He’s in great spirits,” Thompson said. “It seems as if nothing really happened. He’s truly a very strong person.”
Thompson said that although Allison was in pain, his main focus was on the students.
“We had to pry inch by inch and cut here and do different types of things to get him out,” Thompson said. “Even though the way his body was in there, he was maintaining a great sense of humor. We laughed. We laughed a lot while we were in there. Knowing he was in complete pain, he kept asking about the children. How are my students or how are my kids the way he put it.”
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