Many thanks to a reluctant hero

The school bus ended up in a paddock of maize. Photo / Tracey Grant

He saved 34 children from major injury - or worse - but Warren Lane's boss is wary of making him angry.

Lane has been praised by police for keeping the school bus he was driving upright after it was hit by an out-of-control station wagon near Marton in the Rangitikei district on Thursday.

"The kids were mighty lucky," said Constable Paul Grayson. The bus managed to avoid power poles and stay on its wheels after careering through a ditch and fence.

The principal of the school Lane was driving for - the private Huntley School - says Lane is a reluctant hero.

"The police did tell me that without Warren's quick thinking it could have been a lot worse," principal Bradden Gay said. "He's probably angry at me for saying he's a hero, but he is."

Publicity-shy Lane has driven buses for 35 years and insists he was just doing his job.

"I didn't have time to get scared," Lane said. "I was just more worried about the kids and how it could have turned out."

He said the incident now seemed "like a blur".

Nine boys and one teacher were taken to Wanganui Hospital but all had now been discharged.

The group was returning from a cricket match at Wellesley College in Wellington.

Gay said in his 12 years as principal at Huntley School this was probably the scariest event he'd had to deal with.

He said Lane had been there as long as anyone remembered and was a popular driver who was always involved in school activities.

Grateful parents have sent the school messages of thanks and offered presents to Lane, who was embarrassed by the attention.

"I just did what I suppose anyone would have done. I don't want anything."

The driver of the car was admitted to hospital with serious injuries.