SEATTLE — Metro bus driver Eric Stark was shot while driving Route 75 in Seattle's Lake City neighborhood in March. He still managed to drive his passengers to safety away from the gunman.
Stark was hailed a hero for his actions, but he wanted to thank the first responders and paramedics who helped him after the attack.
Stark told the group of Seattle medics, "I love you guys. I have so much respect for what you do everyday and I absolutely wanted to come back and say thank you.”
Stark was shot in the chest. He said he doesn’t remember everything that happened, but he does remember paramedic Brian Wallace working to save him.
“It’s a pretty traumatic event that he went through. I’m glad to see he’s in good spirits and seems to have everything in perspective,” said Wallace.
Stark said since the shooting, he’s taken time to reflect, and he’s thought about how things could have ended differently.
“I went down to the right to get below the windshield and that’s when he shot the second time,” said Stark. “I figured by where it came through the windshield, if I was still sitting up in the seat, it would have hit me right in the face.”
When the second shot missed him, Stark put the bus into reverse and drove to safety. The paramedic said Wednesday’s reunion was also a chance to thank Stark and call his actions heroic.
