A Howard County school bus went the wrong way. Students intervened.

When their bus driver went off route, Howard County students quickly got out their cellphones and called their school for help.

After Tuesday’s dismissal, a bus carrying Glenwood Middle School students ended up going on an unexpected journey to get home. Instead of taking the usual route, their bus driver brought them across county lines into neighboring Carroll County on Route 97.

Howard County Public Schools’ transportation office was notified of the unsanctioned route change about 15 minutes after the bus departed from the Glenwood school, thanks to students calling in, school system spokesperson Brian Bassett said in a statement.

Transportation staff coordinated with Maryland State Police and local law enforcement agencies in Howard and Carroll counties to locate the bus. Thanks to internal cameras, the school system was able to tap into footage from the bus, Bassett said.

Maryland State Police located and stopped the bus on Route 97. They said 16 children were on board.

The bus driver, 68, was transported to a local hospital, according to state police. A preliminary investigation suggests that she may have experienced a medical emergency.

The transportation office is investigating the incident, Bassett said.

He said the driver, who works for Bowen’s Bus Service, is receiving medical care and is not currently driving for the school system.

When reached by phone, a Bowen’s Bus Service employee referred reporter questions to the school system.

Bowen’s has provided contract bus service to the school system for 25 years and operates 56 routes, according to the company’s website.

Glenwood Middle School students are dismissed daily at 2:35 p.m. The school sent out an email blast at 3:43 p.m. Tuesday to inform families that the bus was pulled over on Route 97, according to an email obtained by The Banner.

A second email at 4:17 p.m. mentioned the potential medical emergency.

“We know how unsettling it can be when a bus is unexpectedly delayed, and in this case there was a medical event which was the source of your child’s delay in getting home this afternoon,” the email read.

The email also said that a new driver was taking command of the bus to get students home. Glenwood Middle Assistant Principal Margaret Stavish followed the bus to each stop to ensure all students arrived home safely.

Later on Tuesday, students were offered counseling and Glenwood Middle officials spoke with families.

Another meeting with parents and guardians whose children were on the bus is scheduled for Friday, according to an email obtained by The Banner.