BEAUMONT, Calif. — The Record Gazette reports that Beaumont Unified School District trustees recognized Jody Jermeay, a driver for the district for 20 years, for saving a toddler’s life while picking up a student on her route on Jan. 14.
Jermeay told the newspaper that while getting ready to pick up a student in front of his house, she saw the toddler running down the sidewalk toward a car that was backing out of a driveway. After she was unable to get the driver’s attention by honking her horn, she pulled the bus across the driveway to block the car from pulling out.
The toddler’s older sibling was able to move the child out of the way, but Jermeay told the Record Gazette that it was a close call.
Trustees presented Jermeay with a certificate, and Superintendent Maureen Latham thanked her for saving the child from danger.
To read the full story, click here.
Driver honored for saving toddler’s life
Beaumont (Calif.) Unified School District driver Jody Jermeay sees a toddler running down the sidewalk toward a car that is backing out of a driveway and pulls her bus across the driveway to block the car from pulling out. The child’s older sibling is able to move the boy out of the way just in time.
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