# Woman jumps in front of car, saves child. **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 7, 2017, 3:58am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334 "2017-06-07T03:58:35Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Velocity](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/velocity/32/18006_2.png) [@Velocity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Velocity)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 3:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/23 "2017-06-08T15:59:07Z")
For what it’s worth, the overwhelming consensus of YouTube comment sections (often a brutally honest gallery of people’s true opinions) is that the woman was \*\*\*not \*\*\*trying to save the boy, but, rather, just trying to get out of the way of the car herself. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 4:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/24 "2017-06-08T16:09:11Z")
> [@Velocity](#): > > For what it’s worth, the overwhelming consensus of YouTube comment sections (often a brutally honest gallery of people’s true opinions) is that the woman was \*\*\*not \*\*\*trying to save the boy… That is what I saw in the video – no evidence that the woman was trying to save the boy in any way. And then the policeman in the interview says she is a hero, so does he have information such as another video, or a witness, to base that on? Without other info, to me it appears she was in the wrong place at the right time and lessened the impact on the boy, fortunately for the boy but unlucky for her. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 4:18pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/25 "2017-06-08T16:18:52Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > That is what I saw in the video – no evidence that the woman was trying to save the boy in any way. And then the policeman in the interview says she is a hero, so does he have information such as another video, or a witness, to base that on? Call me crazy, but I would assume this assessment was largely based on what witnesses reported. Because the video tells little about what happened before the collusion took place. I hope I don’t have nightmares now after watching that. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 4:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/26 "2017-06-08T16:21:23Z")
Three people were hit by the car: two boys, boy #1 is wearing a black and blue top, and boy #2 is wearing an all black top; and one woman wearing a tan sweater. Boy #2 and the woman get pinned against the wall, and boy #1 had walked past the wall and was simply knocked down. Boy #2 and the woman in the tan sweater got hit the hardest. Boy #1 got knocked down and was able to run into the store with the other woman with the green backpack. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 4:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/27 "2017-06-08T16:22:40Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Call me crazy, but I would assume this assessment was largely based on what witnesses reported. Yes, that could be. ---
**Author:** ![Kinthalis](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kinthalis/32/16084_2.png) [@Kinthalis](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kinthalis)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 4:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/28 "2017-06-08T16:30:16Z")
So do we have any other context as to what the hell happened? Also, when are we getting fully automated cars? The number of human lives saved would probably dwarf a cure for cancer. And finally, if that were to happen to one of us, would jumping be a good idea?Jumping straight up is probably quicker than trying to get out of the way, unless you’re right near the edge of the car. And I’m guessing hitting the windshield is probably better than hitting the front of the car, unless you do so with your head I guess. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 4:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/29 "2017-06-08T16:37:21Z")
Yes, jumping straight up would be a good strategy to lessen your injuries. ---
**Author:** ![Machine\_Elf](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/82dd89/32.png) [@Machine\_Elf](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Machine_Elf)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 5:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/30 "2017-06-08T17:11:06Z")
> [@Kinthalis](#): > > Also, when are we getting fully automated cars? The number of human lives saved would probably dwarf a cure for cancer. US cancer deaths per year = 600,000, and traffic deaths per year = 40,000, so not quite. But getting self-driving cars to market will be much, much easier than finding a cancer panacea. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/31 "2017-06-08T17:20:33Z")
My husband, who spent a year in Iraq putting radios in trucks, and has been called a hero, pointed out that since 9/11, the word “hero” doesn’t mean much anymore. Everyone who was in the twin towers was called a “hero” just for being there, whether they did anything to help anyone else, or sacrificed anything. Whether they died or survived, they’ve all been called “heros.” So maybe all people mean when they are calling this woman a hero is that by just being there, she maybe, possibly, saved the boy’s life. You no longer have to jump between a kid and a car to be a hero-- you just have to happen to be there, and you are a hero. My husband could be right. People do use the term “hero” pretty loosely these days. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 5:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/32 "2017-06-08T17:38:56Z")
> [@RivkahChaya](#): > > You no longer have to jump between a kid and a car to be a hero-- you just have to happen to be there, and you are a hero. > > My husband could be right. People do use the term “hero” pretty loosely these days. Or he could be 100% wrong, and she indeed was a hero who put herself in harm’s way selflessly, doing something many others would’ve never considered doing. Since you husband wasn’t there, how would he know one way or the other? ---
**Author:** ![pulykamell](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/pulykamell/32/3166_2.png) [@pulykamell](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/pulykamell)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 6:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/33 "2017-06-08T18:22:39Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > The video link in the OP does not show this. Well, that’s what I see in that video. That she is walking initially to the left of our frame, looking like she’s going to cross the street there or something, but then ends up walking left/to the bottom of our frame. You can see a little better in the slow mo replay (look at 12 seconds0. Like I said, it doesn’t necessarily look intentional to me, but it happens so fast that I can’t tell and reserve judgment. But she completely changes direction from where she was walking into the path of the vehicle instead of away from it. It could very well have just been bad judgment or an instinctive reaction that sent her the wrong way. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 8:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/34 "2017-06-08T20:20:32Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Or he could be 100% wrong, and she indeed was a hero who put herself in harm’s way selflessly, doing something many others would’ve never considered doing. Since you husband wasn’t there, how would he know one way or the other? That seems like an unnecessarily prickly response. As I read it, her husband was commenting on general usage of the word. He made no claim to have insight into the specifics of what actually happened here. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 10:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/35 "2017-06-08T22:19:57Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Or he could be 100% wrong, and she indeed was a hero who put herself in harm’s way selflessly, doing something many others would’ve never considered doing. Since you husband wasn’t there, how would he know one way or the other? Assuming she actually jumped in front of the car to save the boy, she’s a hero. But it sure doesn’t look like she was doing that to me. Presumably if she was trying to protect the boy she’d just have pushed him out of the way. > [@Kinthalis](#): > > And finally, if that were to happen to one of us, would jumping be a good idea?Jumping straight up is probably quicker than trying to get out of the way, unless you’re right near the edge of the car. And I’m guessing hitting the windshield is probably better than hitting the front of the car, unless you do so with your head I guess. Jumping up is usually a very bad idea. That means two separate impacts - one with your lower legs, spinning your upper body towards the oncoming vehicle - and then another when your head or face hits the windshield and in a best-case scenario your face is ripped off. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 10:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/36 "2017-06-08T22:21:53Z")
> [@you\_with\_the\_face](#): > > Or he could be 100% wrong, and she indeed was a hero who put herself in harm’s way selflessly, doing something many others would’ve never considered doing. Since you husband wasn’t there, how would he know one way or the other? Yeah I thought this was a little unfair too. But based in the video I do not see how she was a hero. And **RivkahChaya** ’s husband was speaking generally. Maybe that lady was a hero, maybe she saw what was going to happen and acted selflessly. If she did, the video doesn’t show it. And if the city official called her a hero just because she happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, well I agree with her husband. ---
**Author:** ![Bullitt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bullitt/32/5725_2.png) [@Bullitt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bullitt)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/37 "2017-06-08T22:23:51Z")
> [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](#): > > Jumping up is usually a very bad idea. That means two separate impacts - one with your lower legs, spinning your upper body towards the oncoming vehicle - and then another when your head or face hits the windshield and in a best-case scenario your face is ripped off. Okay but if jumping up moves your body (or most of it) out from between the car and the wall, it is a good thing, wouldn’t you agree? Any part of the body between the car and the wall is likely to get crushed. ---
**Author:** ![Riemann](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/riemann/32/3133_2.png) [@Riemann](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Riemann)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 10:28pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/38 "2017-06-08T22:28:46Z")
I think the jumping vertically notion is fantasy. How high can someone to jump in a fraction of a second without time to get themselves poised to jump? If you have time to react at all, you’re surely better off just trying to move sideways, even if only enough to change a head-on to a glancing blow. ---
**Author:** ![Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e8c25b/32.png) [@Really\_Not\_All\_That\_Bright](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Really_Not_All_That_Bright)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 10:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/39 "2017-06-08T22:30:58Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Okay but if jumping up moves your body (or most of it) out from between the car and the wall, it is a good thing, wouldn’t you agree? Any part of the body between the car and the wall is likely to get crushed. If it was a brick wall, maybe. But really, the only part of your body capable of taking that sort of impact is the pelvic girdle. ---
**Author:** ![RivkahChaya](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rivkahchaya/32/8919_2.png) [@RivkahChaya](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RivkahChaya)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 10:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/40 "2017-06-08T22:42:00Z")
> [@Bullitt](#): > > Yeah I thought this was a little unfair too. But based in the video I do not see how she was a hero. And **RivkahChaya** ’s husband was speaking generally. Maybe that lady was a hero, maybe she saw what was going to happen and acted selflessly. If she did, the video doesn’t show it. And if the city official called her a hero just because she happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, well I agree with her husband. Yes, he was speaking generally; he was not making a comment about whether the woman did or did not do anything heroic, just that people are throwing the word around these days, and not reserving it for true gallantry. My husband went to war, but he didn’t do anything heroic there, and doesn’t consider himself a hero for the mere fact of having been there, but there are a lot of people who call him-- and _anyone in uniform_– a hero. ---
**Author:** ![Ambivalid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a5b964/32.png) [@Ambivalid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ambivalid)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 10:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/41 "2017-06-08T22:43:20Z")
> [@Riemann](#): > > I think the jumping vertically notion is fantasy. How high can someone to jump in a fraction of a second without time to get themselves poised to jump? If you have time to react at all, you’re surely better off just trying to move sideways, even if only enough to change a head-on to a glancing blow. Yeah, jumping vertically just sounds like a sure-fire disaster. ---
**Author:** ![you\_with\_the\_face](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/y/ecccb3/32.png) [@you\_with\_the\_face](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/you_with_the_face)\ **Post date:** [June 8, 2017, 10:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334/42 "2017-06-08T22:55:00Z")
Bregruding someone being called a hero because of what you did or didn’t see in a half second video shot is cynicism at its worst. I mean, I get it, skepticism and all that. But you know, we’re talking about a woman who was slammed into the wall by a car and will probably never be the same ever again. iI it’s true she instinctively tried to protect that kid, it’s really sad people cant just let her be great. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/woman-jumps-in-front-of-car-saves-child/788334.md?page=3)