Richard Jones stepped in front of a speeding car near Pinecrest Academy St. Rose in Las Vegas
Credit: FOX5 Las Vegas/YouTube
NEED TO KNOW
- Crossing guard Richard Jones stepped in front of a speeding car to protect a mother and her two children
- The driver fled the scene after the incident, which occurred in a 15 mph school zone
- The family thanked Jones with a gift basket and handwritten note, calling him an “amazing man”
A Las Vegas crossing guard is being dubbed a hero after stepping in to protect a mother and her two children from a potentially catastrophic incident.
According to Fox 5 Vegas, Kae’la Leon Guerrero was walking hand in hand with her 5-year-old daughter and her 11-year-old son was walking behind them, when a car stopped less than 10 feet from hitting them in the crosswalk by Pinecrest Academy St. Rose on Wednesday, Aug. 26.
Jake Garcia provided the news outlet with dashcam footage of the moment that All City Management Services crossing guard Richard Jones stepped in the path of the speeding car to protect the family.
“From a distance, we saw a car coming, but not knowing that he was speeding toward us,” said Leon Guerrero, per Fox 5 Vegas, adding of Jones, “He shielded us.”
Credit: GoogleMaps
The mother said if Jones “didn’t jump in front of that car, something bad would have definitely happened.”
The driver of the vehicle left the scene after the incident, per Fox 5 Vegas.
Jones believes the car was going around 35 miles per hour in a 15 mph school zone. He told Fox 5 Vegas protecting the family was just part of his job.
“Honestly I just try to do the job the best way I can,” Jones said.
Leon Guerrero has been trying to comfort her children since the incident, which left them shaken.
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To express their appreciation, her son came up with the idea to make Jones a gift basket that includes restaurant gift certificates, a neck fan and a hand-written thank you note.
“I don’t know how many times I said thank you for what happened yesterday, but he’s an amazing man. And my kids thank him every day actually,” Leon Guerrero told Fox 5 Vegas.
Pinecrest Academy St. Rose and All City Management Services did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
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