On January 23, 2010, Steven Wilton was traveling home to Lingan from Saint Francis Xavier University on an Acadian Lines bus.

Shortly after 6:00 p.m., the bus drove through a bridge guardrail on Highway 104, and fell almost eight metres into the icy Tracadie River. Miraculously, the front end of the bus remained above water. Mr Wilton, quickly swam to the front of the bus and was able to escape. He ran up a snowy bank to the highway, where he flagged down drivers, who called 911. Mr. Wilton’s quick actions and ability to make it to shore safely allowed emergency personnel to reach the injured victims in enough time to save them from the icy water.

Mr. Wilton put his own safety at greater risk to get help for the other five passengers, who were rescued from the submerged bus.