Florida Bus Driver Saves Hit-And-Run Victim on Way Home From Field Trip: ‘I Was God’s Sent Angel’

A Florida school bus driver said she usually takes the same route home every day, but last Monday she had a feeling she should instead drive down a different street than usual.

After dropping the high school band off at school, Stacey Hatcher headed down Bay Street in Eustis, about 40 miles outside of Orlando, rather than making her usual turn, WOFL reported.

That's when she spotted a dark figure on the road.

Hatcher brightened the lights on her bus and saw a woman, later identified as Abigail Stevens, was lying in the middle of the street. Hatcher quickly pulled her bus over to block traffic, called 911, and began caring for Stevens, who had been struck by a car. The community is now crediting Hatcher as a hero for getting Stevens out of the road before she was hit by another car.

"I believe I was God’s sent angel, chosen vessel, to save her life," Hatcher told the outlet. "I love God and I serve Him, and I'm glad He chose me. He thought enough of me to be the one to save Abigail’s life."

Stevens is still on life support, and her grandmother, Cathy, told the station she has about a 50% chance of surviving. She broke more than 20 bones and has so far needed six surgeries in her skull, neck, legs, ribs, and spine.

The person responsible for hitting Stevens remains at large.

Police believe the suspect was driving a white "passenger vehicle" with black molding along the front and rear passenger doors.

"Please turn yourself in, my baby is fighting for her life," Cathy Stevens pleaded.

Stevens said she was beyond thankful that Hatcher decided to stop.

"If I could talk to her or meet her, I would thank her a thousand times," she said.

Hatcher said that days later, she still struggles to drive down the street where the accident occurred and has had trouble sleeping. She said she hopes the hit-and-run perpetrator will be found to help give her closure — but also to provide closure for Stevens' family.

Loved ones have set up a GoFundMe for Stevens and hope to put $5,000 toward her medical expenses.