Bus driver who died saving tourists honored

A bus driver was posthumously honored a "Good Samaritan of Zhangjiajie" on Friday by the publicity department of Zhangjiajie city, Hunan province, after he suddenly fell ill at the wheel but managed to bring his vehicle to a safe stop, saving the lives of all 12 people on board. He later died from the illness.

On July 7, a travel agency representative presented a banner of thanks to a transportation company on behalf of the group of South Korean tourists whose lives had been saved by 41-year-old Xiao Bo, the driver.

The incident occurred on the evening of June 29, when Xiao was driving 11 South Korean visitors and their guide on an expressway toward Zhangjiajie. At around 9:13 pm, dashcam footage captured the coach drifting out of its lane and weaving across the road.

According to tour guide Jin Guangri, the group had spent the day sightseeing, and most passengers were resting when the crisis began.

As the bus started to swerve, Jin rushed to Xiao's side.

"At first, I thought he was trying to avoid an animal," Jin said. "I asked if he was tired and needed to stop, but there was no response. When the bus veered again, I urged him to brake and shook his shoulder — still no response."

The footage then shows that, despite his distress, Xiao summoned his remaining strength to apply the brakes and switch off the engine, bringing the bus to a halt in the traffic lane. He attempted to steer one last time but was unable to regain full control.

"We were crossing a bridge dozens of meters above the ground," Jin recalled. "If Xiao hadn't made that final move, the bus could have plunged over the side."

Xiao then lost consciousness. He was rushed to the hospital, where it was discovered that he had sustained a brain stem hemorrhage. He died three days later.

Colleague Pan Simin said Xiao, a veteran who joined the company in June 2024, "was conscientious and always put safety first. In his year on the job, he never had an accident and he often helped passengers with their luggage."

Xiao's younger brother, Xiao Ying, described him as "kind and upright, still disciplined like a soldier".

After leaving the military, Xiao Bo worked in security and drove agricultural vehicles before becoming a tour bus driver.

His family was not well off. He had divorced, and his child lived with their mother.

"Since his passing, many former colleagues and friends have come to pay their respects," Xiao Ying added.

In the wake of his death, the company has expressed its condolences to Xiao's family members and is arranging relief funds and insurance payments on their behalf.

"Our company will also support Xiao's child and offer preferential hiring once their education is complete," Pan said.