Every year, millions of children get to and from school by riding on a school bus. The drivers go through extensive training, not only to handle a large vehicle but also to ensure the safety of the passengers. They genuinely care about the kids and will do whatever they can to make the experience positive.
Accidents happen
Unfortunately, when it comes to accidents, school busses aren’t exempt. Once in a while, a crash is the driver’s fault. But other times, it’s not. It’s because someone else on the road made a mistake.
Johnathon Grayer’s story
That’s what happened to a 25-year-old man in Southeast Georgia. While driving a rental truck, he accidentally rear-ended a school bus. At the time, roughly 10 children were onboard, along with the driver.
It was serious
This wasn’t just a slight bump but a major accident. As a result, Grayer was horribly injured. Despite that, he jumped out of the truck and ran to help the kids. Even with massive injuries, he was focused on them…not himself.
An angel in disguise
One by one, Grayer helped the children off the bus, making sure they were all safe. Once all the kids were out of the bus, an ambulance took this young man to the hospital. Sadly, he succumbed to his injuries.
Caught on camera
Today’s buses have surveillance cameras onboard. The day of the accident, it recorded Grayer’s heroic act. According to State Trooper, Shane Copeland, the footage showed that even with serious injuries, Grayer had one thing on his mind…getting the children to safety.
A message from Grayer’s parents
For Isaiah and Veronica, losing their son Johnathon was difficult. But they explained that although he was just 25-years-old, he had a huge heart, one of gold. They went on to share that he always laughed at himself and focused on the positive things in life.
Superman-like power
Referring to what the surveillance camera showed, Veronica told people, “They said that for one reason or another, he just ripped the whole seat out of the bus with the child, and I was like, ‘Wow’.”
He took control
Throughout the entire time that Grayer was getting the kids off the bus, he remained amazingly calm. He also worked hard to calm all the kids, who can imagine, were in hysterics. Grayer went as far as to tell one child to get off the bus with him so they could go get ice cream. He did everything to encourage them to let him help.
The kids react
To that child, after exiting the bus, he turned to an officer and said, “Where is the man that took me off the bus? Because we’re supposed to get ice cream.” Grayer was able to refocus the kids’ attention away from the accident.
His last breath
It was only after he knew the kids were safe that Grayer collapsed. While doctors did their best to save the young man’s life, his injuries were too severe. Yes, he was the one that hit the bus but it was nothing more than an accident. This man worked to protect the children until his dying breath.
People often ask what a hero looks like and the answer is, Johnathon Grayer. He pushed through massive pain because he cared about the innocent children on the bus that day.
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