Winter Garden crossing guard pinned under car, critically injured

WINTER GARDEN, Fla. – A crossing guard with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office was critically injured Wednesday afternoon after becoming trapped under a vehicle involved in a crash and according to the Sheriff’s Office, this marks the second incident of the day during which a crossing guard was injured.

Three vehicles were involved in the crash at Avalon Road and West Colonial Drive at 3:29 p.m., said Capt. Scott Allen with the Winter Garden Police Department.

“It appears the vehicles were stopped for a red light and the crossing guard when a rear-end collision happened, and it caused everyone to pile up," he said.

One of the vehicles involved in the crash landed on top of the crossing guard. Witnesses helped push the car off of the woman, he said.

The crossing guard was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Allen said two others were also taken to the hospital with minor injuries.

“I saw the truck flipped over, and I told my son, ‘boy somebody got hurt there,’” said Clifford Rutland, who lives nearby. “It’s devastating because they’re taking their life in their hands when they’re out there, when they’re crossing kids, and crossing the roads and standing you know? It’s sad real sad."

Officials with the Orange County Sheriff’s Office said the crossing guard was employed with the Sheriff’s Office for almost two years and was currently working the intersection helping students from Tildenville Elementary and Lakeview Middle Schools.

“Our crossing guards are an invaluable resource and are integral to keeping the kids of Orange County safe every day when they show up at their posts,” the Sheriff’s Office said in a statement. “We are praying for the crossing guard’s speedy recovery.”

Orange County Sheriff John Mina said this incident marks the second Sheriff’s Office crossing guard to be hit by a car in the same day. The first crossing guard was hit Wednesday morning at Moss Park Road and suffered minor injuries.

Winter Garden police investigators are working to determine the cause of the crash and if there will be any charges.

A crossing guard was also hit in Clearwater on Wednesday.