Iola school officials are working to educate students and the public about how to safely cross streets around the new elementary school, after a student was hit by a car following school on Tuesday.
The incident was reported at 5:39 p.m. on Tuesday, when a 10-year-old child riding a bicycle entered the crosswalk at the intersection of Kentucky and U.S. 54. The child failed to obey the pedestrian signal with the red hand up telling people not to cross, according to a report from the Iola Police Department.
When the light turned green, a vehicle proceeded eastbound, striking the child and bicycle. The driver was unable to see the child because a full-sized truck on the inside lane was blocking the view.
The child was treated for injuries by EMS at the scene, and later transported by her mother to a hospital for further evaluation. The family later reported the child was released from the hospital with no further injuries reported, the police department said.
The next day, school administrators at Iola Elementary School released an instructional video on how to use the crosswalk at Kentucky and U.S. 54.
“It’s very unfortunate. We take safety very seriously for our students,” Superintendent Stacey Fager said.
“We’re having conversations in our classrooms to make our students aware they have to push the button. If you don’t push the button, it won’t count down and it’s a very brief signal.”
School administrators also had conversations with city officials about the busy intersection.
Corey Schinstock, assistant city administrator, said the city hopes to rebuild U.S. 54 at some point, and that intersection likely would be improved. An engineering study is underway, but a full rebuild could still be a few years away.
In the meantime, city officials are looking at options that could reprogram the system to give more time for students to cross.
FAGER also encourages families to consider the safest options for getting to and from school.
The elementary school offers shuttle bus services to the three former elementary school buildings at Jefferson, Lincoln and McKinley. Families can sign up at any point. The bus will pick up students in the morning and take them to the new elementary school, and bring them back to the same location in the afternoon.
Many students walk or ride a bicycle to school in the mornings, Fager said. It’s a healthy option, and students are encouraged to do so in a way that is safe.
The city also is working to develop a trail on the former Missouri-Pacific Railroad line. Some work has been completed and students use the trail daily.
However, it is not yet completed. The city is waiting for curb cutouts that meet requirements for the Americans with Disability Act. Then, they’ll finish curb work and paint the crosswalk. The crosswalk cannot be painted until the path is ADA-compliant, Schinstock said.
