Billy Grooms was hospitalized with multiple broken bones and a severe brain injury after the incident on Sunday, May 31

NEED TO KNOW

• Billy Grooms was run over when he intervened in an assault at an Ohio gas station on Sunday, May 31
• Suspect Javen Meadows allegedly attacked a woman before running over Grooms, 49, with his truck
• Grooms was put on life support due to his injuries, but later died on Thursday, June 4

A father of three has died after being run over while trying to stop a woman from being assaulted in Ohio.

On Sunday, May 31, Billy Grooms was at a Hillsboro gas station with his son when they allegedly saw a young woman being strangled. Grooms, 49, attempted to stop the assailant, who then ran him over with a truck, according to FOX19 and WCSC.

Grooms was rushed to the hospital, having suffered multiple broken bones and a severe brain injury. According to FOX19, he was taken off life support on Thursday, June 4.

“We were trying for hope. If we could try to intervene to stop the swelling, but then within days, he was declining,” Grooms' wife, Amy, told the news outlet.

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Suspect Javen Meadows has been charged with strangulation and assault in connection with the incident involving the woman, FOX19 reported, citing an affidavit filed in Hillsboro Municipal Court. 

According to the court records, Meadows, 22, allegedly hit another truck while parking his Ford F-150 at the gas station just after 2:30 a.m. local time. He then went over to the truck and grabbed a woman by the neck and threw her to the ground and kicked her. 

When the woman got back up, Meadows allegedly took her phone and punched her to the ground, before returning to his vehicle. He then ran over Grooms who was attempting to intervene. 

Meadows had allegedly followed his ex-girlfriend to the gas station, the court records state, per FOX19. It is not clear if the person he strangled was his ex-girlfriend. 

Meadows has not been charged in connection with Grooms' death. However, additional charges are pending, FOX19 reported, citing the Hillsboro Police. 

The woman who was attacked has called Grooms a “hero” for stepping in to help her. “I believe his actions saved my life. I'll carry that gratitude with me forever,” she told the news outlet.

Grooms' organs are set to be donated following his death.

“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,” Angela Osborn, Grooms' sister-in-law, told FOX19.

“He has just been that person to save as many people as he can — and he's going to continue to by these organ donations,” Osborn added.

A GoFundMe set up to support Grooms' family has received over $30,000 in donations.

PEOPLE has reached out to the Hillsboro Police and Hillsboro Municipal Court for comment.

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