Dismissal time turned dangerous outside SSG Manuel R. Puentes Middle School in far East El Paso on Wednesday, when an ATV rider plowed through a marked crosswalk and struck a 9-year-old student on a bicycle, according to witnesses. A crossing guard was directing traffic at the time, but people at the scene said the all-terrain vehicle barreled through anyway. The rider reportedly stopped for a moment, then took off after being asked for information, and the incident is now being treated as a hit-and-run.
SISD officers investigating
Socorro Independent School District officers are handling the case and have opened a hit-and-run investigation, according to KFOX14. The student’s mother shared a video of the collision with the station. The video, credited to Jourdan Ortiz, appears to show the ATV moving through the school’s front crosswalk during dismissal, the district told the outlet.
ATV crashes a growing safety concern
The collision outside Puentes Middle School comes on the heels of renewed concern over ATVs on public streets after an earlier crash this month in far East El Paso County killed a 3-year-old pedestrian. KVIA reported that El Paso County Sheriff Oscar Ugarte stressed ATVs are not designed for road use and said deputies will enforce the law, including impounding vehicles when they are operated illegally.
Parents and witnesses want answers
Parents and staff are rattled, and witnesses who spoke with KFOX14 said a crossing guard had already stopped traffic when the ATV rider "barreled through" the crosswalk and hit the child. The district has not released further details on the student’s condition. SISD officers told the station they are following up on leads as they work to track down the rider.
Investigation ongoing
The investigation remains active as school and law enforcement officials again remind the public that ATVs are prohibited on public roadways and can pose serious risks when driven on the street. Sheriff Ugarte told KVIA that deputies will pursue enforcement, including impoundment, when ATVs are used illegally on roads.
