What should have been a routine walk between Evers Elementary and Jordan Middle School on San Antonio’s Northwest Side turned into a nightmare for one family when a 7-year-old girl was struck by a vehicle, leaving her with a concussion and other injuries. Her mother, Michele Cantu, says the driver stopped briefly, spoke only to the girl’s older sister, then drove off without calling police or waiting for help to arrive, a move the family is calling a hit-and-run. The child, identified by family members as Valentina, was taken by EMS and is now recovering at home.
Cantu described tire marks on her daughter’s boots and said Valentina suffered scrapes and bruises along with the concussion. She also noted that her daughter had been dressed in a sparkly skirt and white cowgirl hat when she was hit, details that underscore how visible the 7-year-old appeared to be. According to Cantu, the driver paused long enough to ask if the girls were okay, then left after talking with the 12-year-old sister, without speaking to an adult or offering further assistance. These details come from the family’s account as reported by KSAT.
In a message to parents, Evers principal Rosanna Gujardo urged drivers to “adhere to safe, slow speeds and to remain completely focused when driving through our parking lots and the roadways surrounding our schools.” The Northside Independent School District told reporters it had made contact with the person who struck Valentina and that San Antonio police are investigating the crash. As of Monday evening, NISD said the incident was not being treated as a hit-and-run. According to the district message and the family account reported by KSAT, school staff committed to repainting speed bumps, refreshing crosswalk paint and adding crossing guards. Cantu said she saw a crossing guard posted the following day, though officials have not confirmed any long-term staffing plan.
Parents Want Action
Cantu says her inbox has been filling up with messages from other parents who report near-misses and previous crashes around the same campus crosswalks. She is pressing the district and the city for stronger enforcement and physical changes that would make it safer for kids to walk to and from school. Families in the area often point to a mix of crossing guards, clearer pavement markings, speed bumps and targeted traffic enforcement as immediate steps while longer-term engineering fixes are considered. For campus details or to report concerns, see Northside ISD.
