ST. HELENS, Ore. -- A high school band headed for a state competition experienced a shocking road trip Thursday.

The St. Helens High School band was headed to Corvallis for the state band competition when their bus suffered a flat tire. Corvallis schools sent them a substitute bus and driver to pick them up.

Shortly after the band returned to the road, a second -- and much more serious -- emergency occurred.

State police said the substitute bus driver suffered some sort of medical emergency while he was driving on Interstate 5 at Highway 34.

St. Helens school principal Nanette Hagen said she saw the driver collapse and begin to veer to the right.

"I told the kids to sit down and brace yourselves," Hagen said.

A parent rushed to help the driver and grabbed the wheel.

"It could have been way worse if the parent hadn't grabbed the wheel and hit the brakes and got us steered off the road a bit," Hagen said.

Paramedics rushed the driver to a hospital, but he died.

The students, who didn't know the fate of the bus driver until late Thursday night, arrived late in Corvallis, but they were allowed to compete.

Hagen said it was a tough decision whether to turn around and return to the school or continue on to the competition. She said it's the first time in about 15 years that the school had made it to the state competition. The students felt compelled to go, she said.

Counselors will be on the high school campus Friday if students need them.