SPRING HILL, Fla. — Their entire job is helping children cross the road on their way to and from school, making sure they don’t get hit by cars, but on Feb. 13 this year, two Hernando County school crossing guards took a hit themselves.

What You Need To Know

  • On Feb. 13, 2024, two Hernando County crossing guards were hit by a driver fleeing another traffic crash

  • After recovering, one retired, and the other, Nick Gallicchio returned to work, committed to helping his students say safe

  • Gallicchio spent most of his career as a firefighter, and says helping people has been always been in his nature

Hernando County Sheriff’s officials arrested the driver, 54-year-old Robert Noack, charging him with a DUI and drug possession.

While anyone would have understood if the crossing guards had a change of heart on their chosen career path, one said the way the community came together to support him after the accident made it impossible for him to leave.

Nick Gallicchio starts his days at the intersection of Northcliffe Boulevard at Deltona Boulevard in Spring Hill.

“This intersection is one of the worst intersections. There’s no crosswalk right here, and some of these cars they disobey, they come right up to you, they almost hit you, every day it’s like a gamble,” he said.

A gamble Gallicchio, and now retired crossing guard Donald Jenkins, lost in February when officials say Noack, fleeing from another traffic accident, hit both of them. 

“I didn’t realize what happened until I woke up on the ground. I was unconscious, I woke up, and I was looking for my partner,” Gallicchio said.

Thankfully, Gallicchio made a full recovery, and even though this is his job in retirement, he says the first thing he wanted to do was get back out there.

“I know the children, I know the people, I would never leave this corner, because the kids, the love that I had from these kids when I came back, I could never leave this corner,” he said.

Gallicchio’s loyalty to his community runs deep. He spent most of his career as a firefighter, and says helping people has been always been in his nature. When he was hit, he found himself on the other side and realized just how much it means having people there for you.

“There were so many people who were at this intersection who ran to our aid,” he said. “When people say that people don’t care anymore, I don’t believe that. The amount of people that were here when we got hit showed the love that people still have.”

It’s that faith in people that keeps him going, and his kids, of course.  

“These kids are like my own,” Gallicchio said. “I watch out for them. I protect them. That’s what I get paid to do, and that’s what I’m gonna do right here at this corner.”

Gallicchio says his father always taught him that if you fall off the horse, you get right back on, fear doesn’t stop you, which is why Gallicchio will be fearlessly protecting his children on their way to and from school for the foreseeable future.

Noack’s case has not been settled yet.