April 5, 2024, started out as an ordinary day for the brothers of SigEp’s South Carolina Alpha chapter. Members and their guests were on a charter bus, excited to be heading to New Orleans for the chapter’s annual formal event.
As he sat at the front of the bus that Friday, Paul Clune, South Carolina ’25, couldn’t have known the trip would be life-changing. For several hours, there was nothing unusual about the trip as the bus smoothly cruised along. Then without warning, everything went off kilter. One of the tires blew, causing the bus to strike a concrete barrier and briefly sending it up onto one side before the driver was able to wrestle it back fully onto the pavement.
Clune said he wasn’t sure what had happened at first. “I remember hearing [the tire blowing out], and I remember looking up and realizing the bus driver was no longer there,” Clune stated with the same calmness that served him and everyone onboard so well during the incident. The driver, Tina Wilson, had been ejected from the vehicle. But the bus was still moving down the highway.
In this surreal moment, Clune swiftly moved into the seat Wilson had occupied just seconds before. He took the wheel, gaining control of the speeding vehicle, and brought it safely to a stop.
Wilson and a passenger were transported by helicopter to local hospitals. Ambulances took nine other passengers in for treatment. Despite those injuries, it was a lucky day: No other vehicles were involved, and everyone on the bus survived. Wilson and Clune’s actions likely saved many lives that day.
The miraculous outcome made headlines around the country, with numerous news outlets reaching out to Clune. The University of South Carolina recognized his bravery at their spring football game and the team named him honorary captain. While at times, the sudden attention felt overwhelming, Clune said he’s grateful for all the support he received.
“What I leaned on the most was the support from my brothers,” he said. “Everyone was so good about helping me get back to a sense of normalcy.” When he spoke with the Journal, Clune was busy navigating the balancing act that is all too familiar to college seniors: Enjoying their final year of school while completing graduation requirements and searching for a job. “I’m just realizing I’m a senior and savoring and enjoying everything. I know this time is a time that everyone looks back on fondly.”