Grandpa killed pushing 4-year-old girl out the way of speeding car on walk home from school

As parents we’ll do anything to ensure the safety of our children. The same can be said for grandparents and their children’s children.

Though age may slow us, and though our advancing years might mean we’re no longer capable of doing things we could before, we will always do our best to prevent our young loved ones being in harm’s way.

A brave grandfather from Dinuba, California has died after sacrificing himself in order to save his granddaughter from an oncoming car.

According to tragic reports, 72-year-old Alfonso ‘Poncho’ Rios was walking his 4-year-old granddaughter home from school when the fatal incident occurred just a block away from their residence.

Another of Alfonso’s granddaughters, Ariana Garcia, said: “They were crossing the crosswalk to come back home’ he almost came back home, but they didn’t make it.”

According to reports, Alfonso and his granddaughter were at a crosswalk close to their home when the 72-year-old was forced to push her out of the path of an oncoming vehicle.

The 4-year-old was rushed to hospital with a broken arm and pelvis. Reports claim she’s already been discharged and is now expected to make a full recovery.

Ariana said her grandfather’s sacrifice is what made all the difference.

“If I knew I could depend on anybody, it was my grandpa,” she said.

“If I knew I needed somebody to just feel what I was feeling, it was my grandpa. He would always put himself in my position and everybody’s position. Everybody is just devastated.”

Speaking to ABC 30, Alfonso’s daughter, Mariana Rios, said: “He had so much love for all of his grandchildren, for all of his family, but it was an honour for me to see him walk hand in hand with my daughters.”

A heartbreaking story out of Dinuba, California: Alfonso Rios was fatally hit by a car while walking his granddaughter home. Rios pushed his granddaughter out of harm's way before the collision.
Posted by CBS Austin on Tuesday, September 26, 2023

She added: “The sacrifice that he did even in his last moment to protect the life of my daughter – again that compassion, that love.”

A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Alfonso’s family. At the time of writing, it has raised over $10,000.

Such a tragic loss of life. It reminds me of the 88-year-old crossing guard killed by a speeding car after saving 2 children from being hit. You can read that story below: