(XINHUA)

Government officials have honored a bus driver who saved the lives of 24 passengers after being mortally wounded by a flying piece of metal.

Wu Bin, the 48-year-old driver, was traveling from east China's Jiangsu Province to Zhejiang Provine on May 29 when the accident occurred. He was struck in the chest by a large metal fragment that flew through the bus's windshield. Video from the bus showed Wu slowed the bus to a stop, turned on the hazard lights, put on the parking break, opened the door of the bus and asked passengers to evacuate. He died three days later.

Wu was honored with the title martyr by the Zhejiang Provincial Government and model worker by the Ministry of Transport. People took to the Internet to show their respect for Wu, praising his courage and urging authorities to investigate the accident and take care of Wu's family. Wu's family declined to accept donations that poured in after Wu's story was widely reported in China.