Local authorities confirmed that a student was hospitalized after being struck by a vehicle while crossing in a marked crosswalk near Lakota West High School early Friday morning. The incident took place roughly around 7 a.m. on West Chester Road between Muhlhauser Road and Union Centre Boulevard, directly in front of the high school. LOCAL12 News reported that the female student was conscious at the scene and received prompt medical attention at West Chester Hospital.
Further details provided by West Chester spokesperson Barb Wilson indicated the crosswalk was equipped with flashing lights that the student presumably activated as she was hit in the crosswalk. Still, despite this measure, this incident marks the second time in four months a student has been struck at an unmanned crosswalk outside one of Lakota's schools, prompting questions about pedestrian safety and the necessity for a crossing guard in areas frequented by students. Wilson confirmed the driver involved stopped after the accident, WCPO reported.
Historically, this is not the first alarming incident outside Lakota West High School; back in November 2018, a similar situation occurred involving a sophomore student named Maddy Beare, who survived despite suffering broken bones after being thrown 84 feet in an unmanned crosswalk on the same road, reflections on these recurring events do not just invoke a somber contemplation, but demand urgent deliberations on how to prevent them. Notably, the tragic fatality of Lakota East Freshman School student Aspen Dylan Runnels in May was another in a series of pedestrian accidents in the area. Lakota West High School Principal Scott Laman and Head Football Coach Tom Bolden were reported to have "immediately" gone to the scene last Friday following the latest accident, revealing a pattern of pedestrian risk in school zones, an issue highlighted in the FOX19 NOW coverage of the events.
The Lakota school district has yet to respond with a concrete plan regarding implementing crossing guards at these dangerous zones. Betsy Fuller, a spokeswoman for the district, commented on the accident and stated via WCPO, "We are keeping the student and their family in our thoughts and hoping for the best possible outcome."
