15-year-old hit by school bus recalls instinct to save fellow classmate taking over

NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. (WCIV) — For 15-year-old Armando Gutierrez, waiting at the bus stop should have been just another day.

Instead, last Tuesday morning he ended up risking his life.

A bus with eight elementary students on board was heading towards his stop in front of the Neighbor Store on Luella Avenue. Gutierrez said he saw the bus coming, and knowing another student was right next to him, he took a action.

"... I just pushed him and by the time I looked back the bus was already in front of me," Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez didn't hesitate to push another out of the way.

“Naturally it was just instinct I think, because I saw the bus and I pushed him out the way because it was headed our way," he said.

But it ended up hurting him in the process.

Read More: School bus strikes student, building in North Charleston: NCPD

“I was lying on the floor and I felt pain all over my right side and that’s when everyone started screaming, and something probably happened on the other side and that’s when other students came to help me," Gutierrez said.

Gutierrez said a woman helped him and called his dad, who became traumatized after hearing of the news.

"It kind of broke my heart, I come over here rushing over as soon as I can and the first thing that I see is my son laying on the ground bleeding and it’s really traumatizing because I don’t think any parent should want to see their kid like that," said father Armando Hernandez.

Read More: CCSD students describe moments before bus crash in North Charleston

He hopes moving forward, drivers will be more careful on the roads.

Despite the pain, Gutierrez is grateful to still be alive.

“A lot of people tell me it's going to be alright and they pray, and I appreciate the praise and everything," said Gutierrez.

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