EUSTIS, Fla.—The driver who found the victim of a hit-and-run and used her school bus to shield the victim from oncoming traffic in Eustis last month was honored with Citizens Life Saving Award at the Eustis City Commission meeting Thursday night.
Eustis Police Chief Craig Capri presented a plaque to Stacey Hatcher, a 25-year veteran Lake County Schools bus driver for her “heroic act.”
“This is a great act of citizenship and caring about your fellow man,” Capri said.
Capri and Hatcher both believe the the height of the school bus helped her spot the victim lying in the road and Capri said Hatcher’s actions saved the victim’s life.
“Thank God Ms. Hatcher was in her school bus,” Capri said. “She’s an amazing person. She does an amazing job. We need more people, more citizens like this.”
Hatcher had just dropped off members of the Eustis High School Band at EHS, along with a second bus, and both drivers were headed to return the buses to the bus lot off Kurt Street when she found Abigail Stevens, 32, lying in the road on West Lakeview Avenue near the intersection of Morin Street, she told Inside Lake.
She called 9-1-1 and used her bus to shield Stevens from oncoming traffic while she waited for police to arrive. Stevens was suffering from serious injuries and has had several surgeries since she was struck and remains hospitalized.
Eustis Police Department is still investigating the case and said a white passenger car is the culprit. If you have information, call EPD at 352-357-4121.
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