HAWKINS COUNTY, Tenn. — On Friday, hundreds of people gathered to remember a beloved Hawkins County school bus driver.
Aleita Gladson died after a vehicle crossed over the center line and hit her bus Monday in Hawkins County on Highway 70, the Tennessee Highway Patrol said. Two children were on the bus when the crash happened, but were not seriously injured.
Gladson was a longtime driver for Hawkins County Schools.
More than 100 buses from Hawkins County Schools, Kingsport City Schools, and others from the area came together to form a memorial bus procession.
"We miss Aleita, but she is a hero," Director of Transportation Kevin Hilton said. "She protected two students on that bus and it was because of her, putting those kids in the seat properly, that those kids are alive today."
The procession spanned from Cherokee High School to Volunteer High School.
"Words, no matter how kind, can’t mend the heartache felt by our neighbors in the Hawkins County School District and by Aleita's friends and family. However, please know we wish you comfort and peace during this most difficult time," Kingsport City Schools said.
The Hawkins County Rescue Squad said Aleita's death hit the community hard, saying Friday's tribute was a somber one.
"Aleita was not only a dedicated bus driver for years, but also a mentor, a friend, and a role model to so many of us. Her sudden passing will be felt in every corner of our small town," it said. "Gratitude for the time we had with her, for the memories we shared, and for the impact she had on each and every one of us. Aleita Gladson may be gone, but her spirit will live on in the hearts of those who knew and loved her."