CRESTVIEW, Fla. — A quick-acting crossing guard in Crestview snatched a student out of harm’s way Wednesday morning when a motorist sped through a crosswalk on State Road 85 in the city.
The Crestview Police Department (CPD) reported that at approximately 8 a.m. on Wednesday, March 2, Mackenzie Holliday, one of Crestview Police Department’s school crossing guards, quickly reacted to the situation, perhaps saving the life of the child.
Holliday was in the crosswalk stopping traffic as a girl on a bicycle entered the crosswalk. As the child started crossing the road, a black pickup truck sped toward the crosswalk. Holliday reacted by blocking the student from crossing in front of the truck.
The truck continued traveling through the crosswalk and away from the scene, according to police.
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Holliday, and counterpart, Eric Marshall, staff a portion of State Road 85 each morning and afternoon for those walking to and from a local elementary school.
“The traffic had been stopped and the truck was not in line of sight when we gave the student the go-ahead to cross,” Holliday said. She and Marshall both were in the crosswalk displaying hand-held STOP signs.
“Everything happened so fast, but I can honestly say that in that split second my mind was focused on her without even realizing. I have a daughter her age and all I could think about was what would I want someone to do to protect my child.”
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The crossing guard program is a long-standing entity in the community. In 2016, the program fell back under the Crestview Police Department where it saw a revamp in training, according to the CPD.
Holliday has been a part of the unit for about a month.
At last report, the Crestview Police Department had identified the vehicle. No word on the driver or charges as of Friday morning.
A warning to those who would put the safety of public in danger was included in a press release posted to the Crestview Police Department’s Facebook page. It reads, “Speeders, aggressive and distracted drivers beware. There is ZERO Tolerance for people who commit violations in school zones or put the lives of our community’s children in harms way.”
