8-month pregnant driver who saved students from a burning school bus said her 'mommy instincts kicked in really fast'

• On Wednesday, NBC Milwaukee affiliate TMJ4 News published footage showing a school bus in flames.
• Imunek Williams told TMJ4 News she was the driver and sprang into action when she saw smoke.

A fire broke out on a school bus carrying more than 30 students in Milwaukee this week, prompting the driver to spring into action to save everyone on board, NBC affiliate TMJ4 News reported.

The local outlet published footage showing the school bus in flames on Wednesday. The incident happened at approximately 7:50 a.m. near 18th Street and West Highland Avenue, according to TMJ4 News' Julia Marshall.

Imunek Williams later told TMJ4 News' Mary Jo Ola that she was the driver of the vehicle, which was headed to the Milwaukee Academy of Science.

Williams, who is eight months pregnant, told the outlet the bus was blocks away from the school when she noticed a strange smell and smoke.

She told TMJ4 News that she initially attempted to call dispatch through her radio, but smoke was hitting her in the face and eyes making it difficult for her to talk.

"I couldn't barely get what I was trying to say out because of the smoke," she said.

Instead, Williams said she left the radio and decided she needed to get the kids off the bus, according to TMJ4 News.

"I think that's when it was like my mommy instincts kicked in really fast and I was just like, 'OK, come on, mom, let's do it, let's get off the bus," she told TMJ4 News.

Williams told the outlet she felt like it was her "job to stay calm" in the moment, and that she double-checked the vehicle after evacuating the students to ensure everyone was out.

"I was the last person off," she said of the bus, adding that when she turned around she saw flames.

"I wanted to make sure that I was safe, baby was safe, and you know if it was my kid on the bus I would've wanted one of the bus drivers to act the same way that I did," she said.

The NBC affiliate reported that Williams was taken to the hospital as a precaution after inhaling smoke but was "doing fine." No one else was reported injured, according to the outlet.

Milwaukee Police was investigating the incident, which did not seem suspicious at the time, TMJ4 reported Wednesday.

On Thursday, it was business as usual, as Williams told TMJ4 News she and the students could "come to school and come to work the next day."

"Everyone's okay so that just makes me happy," she told the outlet.

Milwaukee Police Department did not immediately answer Insider's call for comment. Williams did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.