An 88-year-old crossing guard was struck and killed by a car, but he's being hailed as a hero because he saved the lives of two elementary school boys.

The incident occurred on Tuesday morning near Christ the King Elementary School in Kansas City, Kansas.

"He saved two of our students today," said principal Cathy Fithian. "I'm confident they would not be here if (he) had not stepped in and we are thankful, we feel very blessed to have had him in our lives for five years. We just pray for his family at this time."

The two boys were aged seven and eleven years.

The school later identified the crossing guard as Bob Nill. A neighbor to the school said he was well liked by the children and that it was a shock that he died.

"He had the stop sign in one hand and he yelled stop," explained Fithian. "The boys listened and they weren't struck because he saved their lives."

Police say the driver of the car is cooperating with the investigation.

Nill had worked as a crossing guard for the school for five years.

Here's more about the tragic incident:

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