Crossing Guard Hit as She Pushes Pupils to Safety

When crossing guard Martha Adamik saw a car careening out of control toward her and several young schoolchildren, she knew whose safety came first.

“My first thought was to get the children out of the way,” she said Wednesday, recalling Tuesday’s accident. “And then I tried to get myself out of the way.”

The children were pushed to safety, but Adamik, 63, was hit and suffered a broken wrist and elbow and a large bruise on her left side.

Police on Wednesday heralded her action as “heroic.”

“The quick action of our crossing guard and the disregard for her own personal safety certainly prevented the students from being seriously injured,” said Lt. Art Romo in a statement. “We are very fortunate and extremely proud of Martha Adamik’s heroic action. She is a credit to our crossing guard program.”

The accident occurred Tuesday afternoon when a car going south on Batavia Street and turning left onto Palm Avenue collided with a northbound car, according to police. That caused the northbound car to careen toward the intersection’s northwest corner, where Adamik stood with four students, waiting to cross after school.

Adamik sprang into action.

“I have 18 grandchildren,” she said. “I know it’s important to act fast.”

Adamik doesn’t remember much of what happened next, other than she tried to push or carry the children, all girls, out of the way.

According to police, a 5-year-old and a 9-year-old received minor scratches and complained of pain, while the other two, ages 6 and 8, were unharmed.

The crossing guard does not remember getting hit.

“I went in and out [of consciousness] several times. I remember seeing a bunch of people around me, and I was worried about the children. I felt bad they had to see me like that,” Adamik said.

She was taken to St. Joseph Hospital in Orange and released later that night. Police are continuing to investigate the accident.

Adamik, who retired as an operator with Pacific Bell in December 1996, said she started working as a crossing guard last June to occupy her time.

“I just love it because I love children,” she said.

But now she will be off work until she has healed. A doctor’s visit on Monday will reveal whether she needs surgery, she said. She cannot return to work with her left arm in a cast, even though she usually holds the stop sign in her right hand.

“You need two arms to do this job. I always hold my hand out in front of the kids. I’m overprotective,” she said.

Despite the danger, she said, she will not hesitate to put the vest back on, grab a stop sign and go back to work.

“It is just my job,” she said. “The children must be safe. That’s my main concern.”