A man from Florida is being called a hero after saving children from a school bus minutes before he collapsed and died.
The incident happened in Bacon County, Georgia, when the Ryder box truck that Johnathon Grayer, 25, was driving crashed into the back of a school bus. The school bus had stopped and had been letting children off at the time.
Despite being badly injured, Grayer jumped from his wrecked vehicle and assisted the school bus driver in getting the children off the bus. There were 10 on board at the time of the crash. Grayer then collapsed and died.
George State Trooper Shane Copeland explained his initial thoughts regarding the actions of Grayer to reporters. He said:
He must’ve been running on adrenaline, and his body gave out.
CCTV footage shows the man trying to free children from the gnarled wreckage, as many had become trapped. Photographs of the crash site show massive destruction, indicating that the collision happened at a very high speed, authorities believe between 50 and 60 miles per hour.
6 children and the driver required treatment for injuries, but none are thought to be life-threatening. Georgia governor, Brian Kemp, said that he and his team were sending prayers to all those injured and to the family of Grayer.
Terrible news out of Alma. @GAFirstLady, the girls, and I are praying for the family and loved ones of the truck driver who lost their life and the students who are injured. https://t.co/IGkkWlDS9h
— Governor Brian P. Kemp (@GovKemp) August 12, 2020
The Georgia State Troopers will now conduct a full investigation into what caused the crash and how so many lives were almost destroyed. They will also ascertain as to whether there was anyone to blame for the crash.
Trooper Copeland added that the department would investigate the crash as if they themselves had children on the bus. He added:
We try to do the standard procedures on every crash and treat all crashes equally. However emotionally, you can’t help but to think I’ve got three children and you can’t help but to think of your three children on their bus back home and it does make it personal if that makes sense.
What is clear is that the tragedy could have been far worse if the truck had collided with the bus at a different angle or if Grayer had not heroically entered the destroyed bus to assist those children in need.
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