Corporal Annette Goodyear, a mother of three and a 14-year veteran of the North East Police Department, was working her regular crossing guard shift in the small town of Cecil County, Maryland. She was helping students cross the road safely and was wearing a hi-vis orange jacket, signaling to oncoming cars to pause so that the students could cross.
However, one particular incident occurred where a car failed to stop and Goodyear’s quick reflexes kicked in. As the student began to cross the road, she pushed the child out of the car’s path to her left, only to be struck by the vehicle herself.
The footage of this incident was shared by Cecil County Executive Danielle Horberger, who praised Goodyear for her heroism in saving the student and stated that the town of North East was already working on commendations for her bravery and swift action. The video went viral and many praised Goodyear’s efforts.
Speaking to The Washington Post last year about what happened, Goodyear recalled: “Out of the corner of my eye, I just see this blur.” Everything just happened so quickly and it didn’t seem real to her.
Goodyear said the driver got out of the car and told her that they ‘just didn’t see’ her. She stated that she couldn’t understand how the driver couldn’t see her, as it was the closest a car had ever come to the crosswalk.
According to the Cecil County Sheriff’s Office, the driver was cited for a number of traffic violations, including negligent driving.
The incident was a reminder of the selfless and heroic actions that Goodyear and other crossing guards take every day to ensure the safety of students and it was a powerful testimony to the dedication and bravery of the North East Police Department.
