TAVARES — Heroes come in all shapes and sizes — and apparently ages too. The Lake County Fire Rescue Division will recognize this month two Spring Creek Elementary students who displayed courageous acts of heroism during one frightful October evening.

On the way home from a pizza restaurant in Umatilla Oct. 28, the vehicle carrying the Hundley family of Paisley crossed the path of a 400-pound black bear on County Road 42. With their mother and younger sister trapped in the wreckage, Christa and Chad Hundley climbed out of the overturned sports utility vehicle and prepared to signal for help.

“The oldest, a 10-year-old girl, climbed on top of the underside of the overturned SUV screaming and waving her hands for help as the little brother also tried to yell and wave down help,” wrote Matthew Roudabush, a Lake County firefighter, in a memorandum to fire department leadership. “A man passing by stopped and called 9-1-1 and then called the [children’s father]. Having only minor injuries, the brother and sister sat calmly in the passerby’s truck worrying about their mom and little sister.

“The actions of these kids played a key part of the solution to the life-threatening emergency they were faced with,” he continued.

The Lake County Fire Rescue Division and other County officials will honor the two Hundley children for their heroic actions during a ceremony Monday, Dec. 20, at 9:30 a.m. at Spring Creek Elementary School, 44440 Spring Creek Road, Paisley.

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Contact information:
Christopher Patton
Communications Coordinator
Office: (352) 343-9609; Cell: (352) 455-0445
cpatton@co.lake.fl.us