An 11-year-old school patrol guard in Rockville acted quickly on the job, possibly saving the life of a younger boy when a driver blew past a stop sign.
Jarius, a 5th grader, was at his post in April when a school bus stopped and deployed its stop sign. A group of kids was waiting on the opposite side of the road, waiting to cross and board the bus.
Video from the bus shows the driver of a black car disregarding the sign and zooming through the intersection, just as Ryan went to cross.
Jaris noticed the situation and reached out to stop Ryan.
"The kid was about to get run over by the car, so I just pulled him back," Jarius said.
With the disaster averted, the kids then safely ran across the street and boarded the bus.
"I was happy I saved his life," Jarius said.
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On the eve of summer vacation, both boys' families gathered Tuesday when the Montgomery County Police Department presented Jarius with a special award.
"He just reacted and did what he was supposed to do," Jarius' father, Edward Taylor, said. "I couldn't be more proud of him."
"It's great to have kids like that who pay attention," Ryan's grandfather, Tom D'Amour, said.
"Thank you for doing your job," a police officer said at the ceremony.
Jarius may have saved Ryan's life, and the school bus camera ensured justice was served. Using the footage, police found the driver and issued a $250 fine, Capt. Thomas Didone said.
