Husband, father of 2, on life support after risking his life to save a girl being strangled, family says

HILLSBORO, Ohio (WXIX/Gray News) - An Ohio man is being praised for his actions in what a girl says helped save her life in a reported assault.

Billy Grooms, 49, and his son were at a Hillsboro gas station last Sunday when they reportedly saw the girl being strangled.

“He went to intervene and asked the boy to let her go, and in turn, the boy jumped in his truck and ran Billy over,” Angela Osborn, Grooms’ sister-in-law, said.

Grooms was said to be rushed to the hospital with multiple broken bones and a traumatic brain injury. According to his family, doctors told them that, sadly, nothing could be done.

“We’re still trying to wrap our minds around the fact that his life is gone for saving a young girl who was being strangled,” Osborn said.

The person Grooms saved that day said she would be forever grateful for his help.

“I believe Billy was a hero. I believe his actions saved my life. I’ll carry that gratitude with me forever,” the girl shared in a statement.

Grooms has been on life support since arriving at the hospital. His family says he is an organ donor and hospital staff are expected to give him an honor walk when they make the final difficult decision.

“He has just been that person to save as many people as he can and he’s going to continue to do so by these organ donations,” Osborn said.

Grooms has a wife and is a father to two boys. Loved ones have started a GoFundMe to help the family, as they say he was their main provider.

“It’s upsetting because he didn’t deserve this at all. He is a good person, a selfless person. He was just a good person all the way around,” Amy Main, a friend of Grooms, said.

Hillsboro police said an investigation remains ongoing.