Students drive school buses to safety after a heart attack while driving

Sealy Junior High School in Sealy, Texas.

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Three teens from southeastern Texas drove a crowded school bus safely after a heart attack.

Gerald Gardner, 73, was leaving Sealy High School on Thursday after catching students when he lost consciousness, KHOU-TV reported.

The two high school students and one undergraduate student took control of the bus as it crossed Highway 90 and stopped it.

"Stop the brakes and steer the bus to prevent it from entering a ditch across Highway 90," said Superintendent of the Deputy School District, Doug Young, at the station.

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"Once they took the bus, they killed the engine." One of the other high school students at the back evacuated the bus students, as they were trained to do it.

Officials said three bystanders had stopped and practiced CPR on Gardner after removing him from the bus. Gardner was later pronounced dead.

In a statement, the school district said it was "extremely grateful" for Gardner's years of service.

Alice Gardner, his wife, told KTRK-TV. "In total, 11 years driving the school bus and he loved all the children of the school bus"

Associated Press contributed to this report.