MEMPHIS, Tenn. — A 12-year old hit by a jeep while walking to school was released from the ICU and recovering from her injuries.
She was on her way to Kirby Middle, crossing Raines Road on the crosswalk, when a woman hit her.
So far, there have been no charges filed in the case.
The father of that child said he was upset because there were no crossing guards at the school and he felt like this whole thing could have been prevented.
“My daughter, she’s laying up on a gurney right now, with tubes in her, with a neck brace on, quite frankly because we as a whole have let her down,” said Darney Whitehead.
Whitehead said he got a call from Kirby Middle after his 12-year-old daughter Christini was hit while walking to school Wednesday morning.
He said this could have been prevented if crossing guards were present, especially in a high traffic area.
“Things like this shouldn’t happen. We’ve been discussing these things, and we as a community, with the school system, these things have been discussed over and over again about children’s safety,” he said.
A spokesperson with the Memphis Police Department said only the elementary schools had crossing guards.
He said they were removed from the other schools a few years ago.
“I guess we were waiting on someone to get hit by a car in order for this to really come to the forefront,so that we can see that this is the top priority of our children,” Whitehead stated.
Whitehead said he plans to hold city leaders accountable until every school gets crossing guards.
“In our city, there’s no reason for a child to concern themselves with getting hit by a car. And there’s no reason for a parent to have to concern themselves for their child getting hit by a car in particular, in a school zone,” he stated.
Whitehead also told WREG the flashing school zone lights were not working either.
WREG asked MPD about that.
We’re still waiting to hear back from them.
