One person was killed and nearly two dozen students and two adults were taken to the hospital. It all happened when a Pepsi truck slammed head-on into a Turkeyfoot Valley school bus last month.

The driver of the Pepsi truck was killed, and the bus driver badly injured. All of the students were released shortly after the crash.

Turkeyfoot Valley held a special assembly Thursday to honor students onboard that bus. Everyone in attendance agreed that if it wasn't for the students' immediate response helping each other, things would have turned out much worse.

In front of their teachers, classmates, first responders, family and friends, the students from the Turkeyfoot Valley school district were honored for their bravery. For the very first time, they shared with 6 News what they remember from the accident.

"I remember looking up from tying my boot, and then I [saw] the truck coming right at us," said student Herbert Lancaster.

Another student, Nellie Nace, said, "All I remember is the initial impact, and then all of us getting up and getting off the bus and taking care of each other."

Students were anxious to see their bus driver for the first time since the crash on Thursday. When he walked in, they all quickly gathered around to say thank you. But Wilbert Kemp refused to take any of the credit.

"I can't say enough that they are the true heroes ... those kids on that bus," said Kemp.

In fact he doesn't remember a thing after the crash. The students, on the other hand, said they'll never forget the chaos.

"All I remember was looking up and seeing a blue blur and hearing the crash," said student Nina Burwell. "There were people screaming to get off the bus, and we all just took off, and everyone was helping each other."

"These students really came forward when they were asked to," said Kemp.

While the physical injuries have mostly healed, it's a day they said forever changed their lives and one they'll never forget.

"Eventually we'll be OK," said Nace. "And then it will just be a thing of the past."

"No one's going to forget it at all," said Lancaster.

Wednesday marked six weeks since the accident. While the district said they still have quite a way to go before they'll fully recover emotionally, physically, the last student has returned to school.

It has not been determined why the Pepsi truck crossed the center line and hit the bus.