The Iowa coach who may have saved lives during an incident on Interstate 24 in Trigg County is being honored for his actions on the morning of December 31st. Justin Smith, Assistant Women’s Basketball Coach for the University of Dubuque, will be recognized at the 15th annual Everyday Heroes Breakfast of the American Red Cross of Northeast Iowa on March 15th for his heroic actions on the morning of December 31st.
As first reported by YourSportsEdge.Com, Smith, along with the rest of the women’s team and staff from the University of Dubuque was on a Windstar bus traveling westbound through Trigg County on Interstate 24 that Sunday morning, on their way back to Iowa after playing in a tournament in Nashville, when the driver of the team bus experienced a medical issue.
The bus swerved to the left of the interstate striking a guardrail. However, before the incident was able to escalate, Smith, who investigators say had been sleeping on the bus, was able to take action that enabled him to get the bus stopped before anyone was injured.
Trigg County Deputy Jared Werner called Smith a hero for his quick actions that may have kept the incident from ending up more serious. No one aboard the bus was injured in the crash.
Congratulations to #UDubuque Coach Justin Smith!
Smith will be recognized at the 15th annual Everyday Heroes Breakfast of the American Red Cross of Northeast Iowa for his heroic actions on a bus trip home from Nashville. The awards breakfast will be held March 15. pic.twitter.com/kIhAz0pxDi
— University of Dubuque (@UDubuque) January 31, 2018