Video shows the crossing guard standing against a vehicle that was driving through an intersection during the afternoon pick-up.
HOUSTON — A Sinclair Elementary School crossing guard is being praised for how he handled an aggressive driver.
Video shows the crossing guard standing against a vehicle that was trying to drive through an intersection as kids were crossing the street. It has residents asking for a safety solution they say is long overdue.
The incident happened at the intersection of Ella Blvd and Grovewood in the middle of the busy afternoon pick-up time last week.
The crossing guard, who has been there for eight years, didn’t think what happened last week would get so much attention.
Michael Phill keeps kids safe while they’re heading to and from Houston’s Sinclair Elementary. Protecting lives was a lifelong dream for him.
“At the age of 17, I was with my mother, and we went through a school zone, we passed through, and I told my mother I wanted to do that, I was going to do that one day,” Phill said.
Outside Sinclair, he sees cars speed by every day.
Last week, cell phone video showed one driver trying to go through the intersection even as kids crossed the road. That’s when Michael intervened.
“She kept motioning toward me, cursing, saying words that was inappropriate, and just refused to back down. I’m just hoping she wouldn’t hurt me or hurt any children,” Phill said.
Residents in the area, like Leanne Searcey, saw the video posted on Facebook.
“I got angry and emotional about it because those are our babies that were crossing,” Searcey said.
She lives near the school and wants to see some safety improvements.
“Definitely, at a minimum, need to see additional signage; we need more visibility,” Searcey said.
There are no improvements planned right now, but Searcey is comforted knowing there’s no wait for Mr. Michael to keep kids safe.
“He’s fantastic, he’s friendly, he’s kind, he’s humble,” Searcey said.
Phill wouldn’t mind safety improvements, but says he wants to do his best to protect others.
“There’s impatient people, you know, that [are] going to always be here, but I’m glad I’m here on this corner, because I believe that’s why I was put here,” Phill said.
This incident got the attention of Houston City Councilwoman Abbie Kamin, who represents the area.
“I want to thank all of our crossing guards and remind drivers you need to slow down, but we do need these safe crossings,” Kamin said during Houston City Council on Wednesday.
Kamin says her office has put funding towards improvements at the intersection, but she claims Houston Public Works hasn’t approved those changes.
KHOU 11 has reached out to Houston Public Works for comment, and we’re waiting for a response.
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