A primary school teacher in the southern city of Shenzhen was injured on May 27 while preventing a student from being hit by a car.

Zhang Xufen, 52, a math teacher at Cuibei Primary School, saw the danger when a car came up fast from behind the student. The teacher quickly pushed the student ahead of her out of the way, witnesses said.

The student was unhurt, but the car ran over Zhang’s left leg and nearly hit her head. The driver, a woman in her 20s, took Zhang to the hospital immediately.

Huang Wenzhen from the school administration told China Daily on May 30 that Zhang suffered a serious fracture in left leg and some small injuries, but is in good condition now.

Zhang said she just followed her instincts, according to a report in Shenzhen Economic Daily.

“I just did something I should have done. If you had been there, you would have done the same thing,” said Zhang.

Zhang has been working in the school for more than 20 years. “She is a great teacher,” Headmaster Guo Wenzheng said. “She is always very patient with students and respects their personality differences.”

The student involved, a third-grader, and his father has paid several visits to the teacher. “We are full of gratitude but meanwhile feel sorry too,” said the father, named Xiao.

The school administration said it will discuss with the local government improving the road situation near the school to avoid further accidents. It will also strengthen safety education among the students.

The two-way street near the school has been narrowed down to one way due to the ongoing construction for subway Line 7, but most students living in nearby neighborhoods must pass the “dangerous” road — without traffic signs or police — on their way to school everyday, school officials said.