You’ve heard the saying “not all heroes wear capes” — well it would appear that some heroes at least wear ponchos. Maryland police officer Cpl. Annette Goodyear is being hailed as a lifesaver after preventing a student from being hit by a speeding car.
Goodyear put herself in harm’s way and was hit by the car, which looks like it could be a Pontiac Grand Prix. The car, which was arguably traveling far too quickly for a school zone, also appears to lock up its wheels as the driver tries to stop on the apparently greasy tarmac at the last second.
“Out of the corner of my eye, I just see this blur,” said Goodyear speaking to The Washington Post. “I have never had a car come this close to the crosswalk.” Evidently, the driver of the car wasn’t aware of their surroundings, and at least from this angle, looks as if they could have been distracted in some way or another.
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Thankfully for the child, Goodyear managed to push them to safety, before being struck by the car herself. The driver of the car, who claimed she didn’t see Goodyear, got out to check on the officer, as did the student.
Miraculously, despite laying flat for several minutes, Goodyear was able to get up on her own. She was taken to the hospital for a checkup but was released soon after. The driver of the car, meanwhile, was cited for several traffic violations, including negligent driving.
Although this situation turned out relatively well, it’s not hard to see how much worse it could have been for all parties involved. While it’s easy to get distracted when behind the wheel, it’s important for all to remain cautious and aware of our surroundings, least we cause an accident.