Beloved Crossing Guard Killed Protecting Students After Driver Allegedly Ignored the Stop Sign He Was Holding
Nicole Acosta
December 9, 2024 at 10:32 PM
A beloved crossing guard in New Jersey is being remembered as a hero for protecting two students from an oncoming driver, authorities said.
Bruce Morlack, 74, died in the crash on the morning of Friday, Dec. 6, in Burlington, N.J., according to a press release from the Burlington Police Department.
Police said Morlack was helping two Burlington City School District students cross the street when he "heroically took action to prevent them from being injured" by an oncoming driver. He was later pronounced dead.
The driver, who was behind the wheel of a 2015 Chrysler 200, remained at the scene and is cooperating with the investigation, police said.
According to surveillance video obtained by NBC10, Morlack was holding a stop sign while helping the students in the crosswalk. However, the sign was allegedly ignored by a red car, which narrowly missed the group, before a white car then hit Morlack.
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In an updated press release shared Monday, Dec. 9, police said the driver of the red car has been identified. According to police, the investigation remains ongoing and they have not filed any criminal charges.
"Bruce's heroic actions saved students from harm, and he will forever be remembered as a true hero," the Burlington Police Department said in a post on Facebook.
Morlack's sister told 6 ABC that her brother became a crossing guard five years ago after retiring.
"He waves to everybody," Sandy Wheatley recalled, per the outlet. "Everybody was important to him."
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