‘You’re a hero!’ Crossing guard shields mother, 2 kids from car speeding toward school crosswalk

LAS VEGAS (KVVU/Gray News) — A crossing guard is being credited with helping save a kindergartner, a sixth grader and their mother from being hit by a vehicle outside a Las Vegas-area school.

Dashcam video provided by Jake Garcia captured the situation from last Wednesday morning at a school-zone crosswalk near Pinecrest Academy, where people were crossing the street.

“From a distance, we saw a car coming, but not knowing that he was speeding towards us,” mother Kae’la Leon Guerrero said.

As the car approached, All City Management Services crossing guard Richard Jones stepped into its path.

“He shielded us,” Guerrero added.

The mother said Jones was holding the hand of her 5-year-old daughter at the time of the near collision, with her 11-year-old son behind them.

The vehicle was reportedly less than 10 feet from hitting them as they were in the crosswalk.

“If that cross guard didn’t jump in front of that car, something bad would have definitely happened,” Guerrero said.

Jones said he was just doing his job.

“Honestly, I just try to do the job the best way I can,” Jones said.

According to Jones, the car was going around 35 MPH in a posted 15 MPH school zone.

Jones and Guerrero met on Thursday, and she showed him the video, which was circulating on social media.

Word also spread inside Pinecrest Academy St. Rose about Jones’ actions, with staff members at the school being heard thanking him.

“Hey, Richard, you’re a hero!” a group of people shouted from across the street.

Garcia, who recorded the dashcam video, said he drives on the road every day to take his son to a different school. He said he also wanted to thank Jones for putting himself in front of the car to protect the children.

Guerrero said her kids were shaken up, and she has been trying to comfort them. The driver of the car was said to have left the scene following the near-crash.

The mother said she hopes this situation reminds drivers to pay attention in school zones.

The Guerrero family also surprised Jones with a thank-you package for his actions and for helping them stay safe.