Daycare Van Driver Hailed Hero by 9-year-old Girl
Published: October 23, 2007
The mother of a 9-year-old girl in last Friday’s daycare van crash said her daughter called the van’s driver a hero.
The driver, Jimmy Payne, has a cracked neck, broken back, six busted ribs, and internal injuries according to his wife Bonnie.
Bonnie Payne said her husband took a turn for the better Sunday night and believes “somewhere down the road he’s gonna be okay.”
Payne is listed in good condition at Carilion Roanoke Memorial Hospital.
State police said another driver, only 17, crossed the center line on a Franklin County highway Friday afternoon.
The car clipped the daycare van sending the van into a nearby creek.
None of the children on board were seriously injured, including Mary Beth Hodges three young children.
“My 9-year-old got the feeling he tried to save them and she thinks [Jimmy Payne] is a hero,” Hodges said.
Hodges nine year old daughter Madison, seven year old son Dakota, and five year old son Berkeley were all on the van.
Hodges said only Dakota required a few stitches on his head.
Children as young as 2 years old made Payne a get well banner at the daycare, the Little People’s Learning Center in Roanoke.
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