Kind-Hearted Florida Man Spent His Final Breaths Saving 10 Kids from School Bus Crash

A man driving a rental truck reportedly slammed into the back of a school bus. It turned out the bus had pulled over to unload students. Given the harrowing scene in front of his eyes, the driver immediately sprang into action.

On the afternoon of Wednesday, August 12, 2020, a Ryder box truck driver was said to have collided with the back of a stopped school bus. The Georgia State Patrol said the incident occurred near Alma in Bacon County, southeast Georgia.

Authorities said the man was driving the rental truck on the south end of U.S. Highway One near Sweetgum Road when it crashed into the school bus unloading students.

The school bus that the rental truck slammed into. | Source: YouTube.com/WSAV3

Taken to the Hospital

The officials said the bus was occupied by 11 people, including ten students and one driver. According to GSP, a few children were taken to Bacon County Hospital, while the others were transported to Shands in Jacksonville, Florida. The bus driver, identified as Jerry Sweat, was also injured and taken to Bacon County Hospital.

Amid the mayhem and disarray, Veronica said her courageous son helped the children stay calm.

Bacon County Fire and EMS Compliance Officer, Tyler Beach. | Source: YouTube.com/WSAV3

A Harrowing Incident

. Regarding the horrific crash, Bacon County Fire and EMS Compliance Officer Tyler Beach revealed:

“We’ve had other accidents and tragedies and things like that in the past, but this one… had you shaken the most out of all of them.”

According to GSP Trooper Shane Copeland, the truck driver didn’t flee the scene and instead rushed to help the children. He said footage from the bus surveillance cameras showed the driver lifting seats to help the children trapped underneath.

The Brave Rescuer

The authorities and the truck driver’s family identified him as 25-year-old Johnathon Grayer from Jacksonville, Florida. After safely rescuing the ten kids from the wreckage, Copeland said he was taken to the Bacon County Hospital, where he later died. Regarding Johnathon’s rescue efforts, Copeland said:

“He must’ve been running on adrenaline, and his body gave out.”

GSP Trooper Shane Copeland | Source: YouTube.com/WSAV3

Keeping the Kids Calm

The Georgia State Police said the truck driver’s efforts paid off, and all ten students suffered non-life-threatening injuries. Johnathon’s parents, Veronica and Isaiah, said their son was a kind-hearted man with a heart of gold.

Veronica said her son had an infectious laugh and a caring spirit and the couple agreed it was a complete miracle for Jonathon to jump out of his wrecked truck and help the students.

Amid the mayhem and disarray, Jonathan helped the children stay calm. According to Veronica:

“He told a little child that they were going to get ice cream. And the parents said the little kid asked, ‘Where is the man that took me off the bus? Because we were supposed to get ice cream.'”

Completely Drained

But after helping all the children out of the damaged bus, the Grayers said their son was drained and couldn’t pluck up the strength to go on anymore. Isaiah recounted:

“After it happened, he collapsed and he was just done like God saying, ‘You did what I wanted you to do.'”

Veronica extended her heartfelt gratitude to the kind man, who she said sat with her son until the paramedics arrived.

Johnathon’s parents expressed that they were crushed to lose him but his warm-heartedness and willingness to help the kids would help them go on with their lives.

Messages of Condolence

Georgia’s governor, Brian Kemp, called the incident “terrible news” in a tweet, adding that his heartfelt prayers were with the loved ones of the deceased truck driver and the injured students.

Johnathon’s parents also sent their deepest prayers to all the students who had suffered injuries. Moreover, they thanked everyone who had shared messages of condolence and support for their late son.

On August 12, 2022, on his son’s second death anniversary, Isaiah remembered his son in a touching post. The caption read:

“Words can’t express how much I miss you today marks 2 yrs that you have been gone and I still cry everyday love you son (sic).”

Netizens React

When the story of the Florida truck driver’s brave and selfless rescue was shared on social media, it touched countless hearts. Here are a few comments that the netizens shared online:

“What a hero. He needs to be honored.”

— (@rose.weir.39) August 21, 2020

“Sorry for your loss! Prayers to his family and friends! God Bless him for what he did!”

— (@deborah.welsh.562) August 20, 2020

“This is what a HERO looks like. Rest In Peace.. May god grant his family peace during this time (sic).”

— (@angie.p.allison) August 20, 2020

Undoubtedly, how the truck driver stepped up to help the children shows he had a good heart. May God grant strength and courage to his loved ones.

Click here to read another story about a quick-thinking Texas bus driver who used car seats to save siblings from the Dallas flood.