Even Police Think 'Some Kind of Intervention' Saved a Bus Driver's Life After Hearing the Details

Police in Dayton, Ohio, say a form of "intervention" likely saved a bus driver, after a contemporary version of the Bible kept in the front pocket of his shirt stopped two bullets intended for his chest Monday morning.

"There was obviously some kind of intervention involved in this incident because he should probably not be here," Dayton Police Sgt. Michael Pauley said at the scene, according to WHIO-TV.

A bus driver was likely saved by a religious text he had in his front pocket, which took two bullets intended for his chest. (Image source: Screen grab via WDTN-TV)

Rickey Wagoner, 49, had stopped his bus to investigate a mechanical problem when police say three teenagers confronted him.

The 49-year-old told police he overheard one of them say, "If you want to be all the way in the club, you have to kill the polar bear," WDTN-TV reported.

That's when Wagoner turned to face the three males and was shot twice. A religious text titled "The Message" took the bullets meant for his chest.

After being shot, the bus driver attempted to fight off the attackers, according to WDTN-TV, and was shot in leg and cut on the arm.

Wagoner, however, did manager to reportedly stab one of the suspects with a pen during the brief battle and also steal their gun.

At that point, the suspects fled in a late 1990s Ford while the 49-year-old fired their own gun at them, possibly hitting a suspect.

The suspects were described as being 15 to 18-years-old wearing dark blue bandanas, according to Dayton Daily News. They were possibly carrying out a gang initiation.

Wagoner eventually fixed his vehicle, driving to a bus hub while calling for help along the way. Police found him in the driver's seat upon responding and he was taken to the hospital where he is recovering and in good condition.

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