Teacher hit by car after pushing a woman and her daughters out of the way!

PENSACOLA, Florida - April 4, 2009 - Pat Judd has proven himself fast on his feet during dozens of marathons.

On Friday, his quick reaction to a car plowing through a stop sign may have saved the lives of a mother and her two children.

Judd, 58, a physical education teacher at A.K. Suter Elementary School for more than 15 years, has extra duties as a crossing guard.

About 7:30 a.m. Friday, Laura Richards and her two children were crossing East De Soto Street when a car drove through a stop sign toward them.

Witnesses said Judd pushed Richards and the children out of the way. He was struck, rolled over the hood of the car and injured his leg.

"He jumped back to take the full impact," Richards said. "I don't really know what happened. It happened so quickly but when it was all said and done, we were safe on the side of the road, and my daughters' flip-flops were still on the pavement."

Richards, 37, had dropped off 6-year-old Abigail at A.K. Suter and was crossing the street back to her car with Laura Sophia, 2, sitting on her hip and Isabella, 4, holding her hand.

"We're so grateful," Richards said. "We pray for him that he'll be all right. If he hadn't been there, it would have been us. My two little girls are so tiny."

Judd was taken to Baptist Hospital, where he was listed in good condition, hospital spokeswoman Colleen Kirsch said. He told her he was just doing his job and declined to be interviewed.

The Pensacola Police Department still is investigating the incident.

Police said Shantisha Lindsay, 27, was the driver of the car. No charges had been filed against her by late Friday.

District and school officials are calling the physical education teacher a hero.

"The incident this morning was certainly an act of heroism," said Escambia County Deputy Superintendent Norm Ross. "It doesn't surprise me at all. He's been a longtime employee and has demonstrated throughout his career his dedication to students and the school."

Back at school, the students wrote cards and made colorful tissue-paper flowers to deliver to their beloved P.E. teacher.