Cherokee County

Cherokee County boy credited with saving 8-year-old girl's life

CHEROKEE COUNTY, Ga. — An 11-year-old Cherokee County boy is being called a hero after rescuing an 8-year-old girl from the path of an oncoming car.

Jacob Austin pulled Taylor Carver to safety when she stepped out onto Springfield Drive near Highway 92 in Woodstock.

“His dad and I are very, very proud that he was able to do that. I think we both kind of feel like we can’t take credit for it. We tried to raise him to be a certain way, of course,” Jacob’s mother, Amy Austin, said.

Both children have autism and attend The Grant Academy, a private school for students with special needs, and now they share an even greater bond.

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The students were on their way to a park near their school when the incident happened.

No one was hurt, and Taylor’s mom in grateful.

“I was shocked to hear what happened, and very thankful to Jacob that my daughter is OK, and he had such good instinct,” Donna Carver said.

Carver contacted the Woodstock mayor’s office and Jacob received a special award.

“It’s something that has to be innate, too. They have to have it in them or they don’t and he does,” said Grant Academy official David Wright.

Woodstock officials said they are looking at ways to make the area more pedestrian friendly, including installing sidewalks and designating the area as a school zone.