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2017 SESSION


HOUSE JOINT RESOLUTION NO. 1073
Commending Michele Coates.

 

Agreed to by the House of Delegates, February 21, 2017
Agreed to by the Senate, February 23, 2017

 

WHEREAS, Michele Coates, a school bus driver with Loudoun County Public Schools, put her own life at risk to ensure the safety of the 32 students on her bus in September 2016; and

WHEREAS, while driving on her usual route to Harmony Middle School in Hamilton, Michele Coates smelled smoke and immediately pulled over, believing that the bus may have been on fire; and

WHEREAS, having trained for such an emergency, Michele Coates calmly helped all of the students evacuate the bus and called emergency services to report a vehicle fire; first responders later determined that the bus was leaking fuel and smoke but had not yet caught fire; and

WHEREAS, after accounting for all of the children, Michele Coates reported that she was suffering from sinus pain and was transported by ambulance to Inova Loudoun Hospital; and

WHEREAS, again disregarding her own well-being, Michele Coates continued to ask for updates on the health of her students, even while receiving treatment for smoke inhalation; and

WHEREAS, thanks to Michele Coates’ quick thinking and selfless actions, none of the students on the bus suffered serious injuries; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED by the House of Delegates, the Senate concurring, That the General Assembly hereby commend Michele Coates for her heroic actions to help save the lives of 32 children in September 2016; and, be it

RESOLVED FURTHER, That the Clerk of the House of Delegates prepare a copy of this resolution for presentation to Michele Coates as an expression of the General Assembly’s admiration for her commitment to the safety and well-being of the children in her care.