A normal walk home from school turned into a life-threatening ordeal for 17-year-old June Shaver in Phoenix, Arizona.
On August 1, temperatures soared to a scorching 112 degrees, and June, a junior at Dysart High School, collapsed on the blistering pavement while walking home—suffering severe burns in the process.
Forced to Walk Home After Bus Cuts
June had relied on the school bus for years, but recent changes in the Dysart Unified School District left students living within a two-mile radius without transportation.
On that fateful day, June was forced to make the trek on foot under extreme heat conditions.
Her grandfather, Larry Shaver, explained that June likely experienced a seizure caused by heatstroke.
“[June] didn’t realize she was in trouble, and she kept going,” he told local media.
Third-Degree Burns From the Blistering Pavement
When June collapsed, the pavement had heated up so intensely it could have reached 180 degrees.
She suffered third-degree burns on her hands, arms, legs, thighs, and stomach.
First responders reported her internal body temperature at an alarming 107 degrees upon arrival.
Her aunt, Brittani Smith, shared that June had brought water with her for the walk—but it wasn’t enough to protect her from the extreme heat.
“She stopped and got water, and that’s the last thing she remembers,” Smith said.
Good Samaritan Steps In
A man driving by witnessed June collapse and turned around to help.
Police body camera footage later captured him explaining how he tried to move her off the pavement, managing only to get her to the side until emergency responders arrived.
“We do not know how long she was on the asphalt before someone found her,” Smith said.
The family expressed deep gratitude to the driver for his quick thinking, crediting him with potentially saving June’s life.
“It was literally a matter of minutes and she wouldn’t be here,” Larry Shaver added.
Long Road to Recovery
June has since undergone five surgeries to treat burns on her face, arms, torso, and legs.
Her family has launched a GoFundMe to help cover medical expenses.
“When she does get out of the hospital, she will not be able to go back to school.
There will be daily wound care for all the burns,” Smith explained.
School District Explains Transportation Changes
The Dysart Unified School District declined to comment on June’s case directly due to privacy concerns but said budgetary pressures led to changes in bus routes.
“Last spring we had the difficult task of notifying families about the need to extend our transportation eligibility requirements to reduce the strain on our aging bus fleet and stay within budget,” the district said.
They noted that most of their buses are 15–20 years old and that no voter-approved bond has passed in 19 years to support replacements and other school improvements.
Family Calls for Safer Solutions
Despite the ordeal, June’s family doesn’t blame the school district outright.
“I’m not mad at the district,” Larry Shaver said.
“I understand they have a budget, but I think there were better ways they could handle this.”
The family hopes this incident sparks conversation about safer ways for students to get to and from school, especially during extreme weather conditions.