Lake City Metro bus driver hailed hero gets day named after him
Aug 5, 2019, 6:50 AM
Eric Stark and Debbie Judd with Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan. (KIRO 7)
(KIRO 7)
Over the weekend, Seattle Mayor Jenny Durkan named August 3 “Eric Stark Day.”
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He’s the King County Metro bus driver hailed a hero after he was shot by a gunman in March in Lake City, and then drove his bus out of the area to protect his passengers.
Stark and Seattle teacher Debbie Judd were both honored at the city’s summer festival. Stark led the festival’s parade.
Saturday was an occasion for people to reflect on what happened and to focus on the good that came out of a tragic incident where a gunman went on a shooting spree in the area, killing two people.
“What they showed our community is strength, that resilience, that love of community. That’s great to have them here,” said Durkan.
A gunman shot four people on March 27, killing Bob Hassan and Robert Lee, who were both in their 70s.
Stark who was driving a Metro bus, was shot in the chest but still managed to maneuver his bus away from the shooter to get his passengers to safety.
“I happened to be in the right place at the right time, depending on how you look at it, and I am glad I was able to do what needed to be done,” Stark said.
Judd, a second grade teacher at Laurelhurst Elementary was shot several times, but even as she was getting loaded into an ambulance, she wanted to make sure a substitute could get her lesson plans.
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“I will say I feel more cautious about being in crowds. I thought even about coming down here with a lot of people. I wanted to be here for the community in Lake City,” Judd said about the event.
Stark and Judd are still experiencing daily pain from their injuries. Stark even shared an X-ray with KIRO 7 showing a bullet lodged in his arm from after it went through his chest.
Both said the support from the community has helped them heal.
Stark is expected to go through another surgery Monday to get the bullet removed from his arm.
Both said the shooting in El Paso Saturday hits close after what they’ve been through, and are thinking of the victims’ families.
