Miniature Trailways BusLucille Widsteen was the last person to board a south-bound Continental Trailways bus out of Topeka one afternoon in February 1972.
Little did she know that the seat she chose would lead her to an act of heroism. Widsteen was on her way to visit a brother in Dallas. The last of 16 passengers to board the bus, she selected the seat immediately behind the driver. Just a few miles outside Topeka on the Kansas Turnpike the driver suffered a heart attack and slumped over in his seat. The bus began to veer out of control. "He just fell over sideways, but the seat belt held him in," Widsteen said later. "When I saw his hands go off the steering wheel, I don't know what made me react but I just jumped up and grabbed the wheel because we were headed over an embankment." 
Throwing herself across the rail that separated her from the driver, Widsteen reached up and over the collapsed man and grabbed the steering wheel. She used all her strength to try to overpower the heavy vehicle, which had swerved off the highway. The bus ripped up about 170 feet of guard-rail and a rear tire blew out before Widsteen was able to turn it back into the driving lane. The driver then revived long enough to slam his feet on the brakes and stop the bus. All people aboard the vehicle survived the incident. Only one passenger was slightly injured attempting to help Widsteen gain control of the bus. A rural Topekan, 54 years old and the mother of three, Widsteen suddenly found herself the center of much attention. Her act of bravery was the subject of newspaper and magazine articles around the nation, many of which captured her sense of humor about the incident. "I always ride the bus," Widsteen told reporters on the day after the event. "I'm afraid to fly." Widsteen was showered with honors. Continental Trailways gave her a cash award and a toy replica of the bus (pictured above, right) she helped save. The city of Topeka bestowed on her its Distinguished Citizen of Topeka Medal. Widsteen also received a medal from the U.S. Congress (pictured below, left) and congratulatory letters from politicians.
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