By Robert Medley
Managing Editor
The car came way too close to a child trying to cross the highway in the middle of town.
A speeding motorist could have hit the Okarche student at a crosswalk, reports Superintendent Josh Sumrall.
In a letter to parents, students and the community, Sumrall said a resident saw a speeding driver nearly hit a student Tuesday, Sept. 14.
“I was made aware of a potential tragedy that almost happened yesterday after school,” Sumrall reported.
He said a resident said he saw an elementary aged student cross U.S. 81 at Kansas Avenue near the health clinic.
The drivers of two cars stopped at the crosswalk for the student, but one driver in a car in the inside lane did not see the student and did not slow down until it was almost too late.
The driver of the car slammed on their brakes and was able to stop before hitting the student, Sumrall said.
“I want our parents, students and community to know that the Okarche Police Department and the Town of Okarche have personnel helping students cross Highway 81 every morning and afternoon,” Sumrall reports.
There is also a crosswalk on Missouri Avenue, across from Holy Trinity Catholic School.
Sumrall said if police officers or town workers are not available, school personnel will try to help.
All students that live on the east side of Highway 81, who walk or ride a bike, use that crosswalk before and after school, and have been notified.
“We have communicated that to students and parents. We do not know who the student who crossed on Kansas Ave. yesterday was, but do not believe that they cross at that location every day. It may very well have been a student who lives near the area and was crossing to go to the Warrior Express store or for another reason, Sumrall said.
“Student safety is a top priority for us, as a school, and we have a great partnership with the Okarche Police Department and Town of Okarche to achieve this. We feel that our Police, Town and school personnel have a good plan in place to get students across Highway 81. We only have a few students that walk or ride a bike across the Highway, on a daily basis, so this message is mainly for those students that need to cross that do not do so on a daily basis.”
Sumrall said he sent the letter as an attempt to stress to parents and students that if a student needs to cross U.S. 81, Main Street in Okarche, after school, for any reason or if they do not normally walk, there are personnel at Missouri Avenue who are helping them.
“We discourage students crossing Highway 81, if at all possible, but if they need to cross and, for some reason, they miss the crossing time, please have students go to the elementary and we will get someone to help them across. We want our students safe,” Sumrall said.
