ORANGE PARK, Fla. — A beloved local crossing guard remains in the intensive care unit fighting to recover after being hit by a car outside Grove Park Elementary School on Tuesday.
The incident occurred while 76-year-old Sheri Hamilton was actively stopping traffic while on duty as a crossing guard. According to the Orange Park Police Department, Hamilton was wearing a high-visibility vest and holding a stop sign when a vehicle turning southbound onto Miller Street from Gano Avenue struck her.
Hamilton sustained severe injuries, including a brain bleed, a broken back, and broken ribs. Speaking from Louisiana, her son, Robert Hamilton, shared that his mother is currently in stable condition after undergoing two emergency surgeries to relieve pressure on her skull.
“She really does it for the kids and keeping them safe,” Robert Hamilton said, noting that his mother has served the community as a crossing guard for over two decades. Her deep connection to Grove Park Elementary dates back to the 1970s when Robert attended the school.
Hamilton said she’s a grandmother and great-grandmother. She is an inherently “bubbly” and happy person who loves playing bingo at her church.
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Orange Park Police confirmed that the driver involved in the crash stopped immediately following the impact and is cooperating fully with investigators. The crash remains under active investigation.
The Hamilton family has expressed gratitude for the local support and is asking the community to keep Sheri in their prayers as she continues her road to recovery in the ICU.
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