Three Libertyville Students Struck by Cars in April

Libertyville School District 70 Superintendent Guy Schumacher is asking for the community's help to ensure the safety of students after the second accident this month in which a Highland Middle School student was struck by a car. Earlier this month a Libertyville High School student was struck by a car on her way to school.

"We believe that the safety of children is the responsibility of all of us in the Libertyville community, and I beseech parents to speak with children and monitor driving patterns, as we all do our very best to keep our community safe," 

The student was hit at 8:39 a.m., April 27, while running northbound on Oak Street, south of Rockland Road, according to the police report. The male student was hit while running between cars, according to Lieutenant Chris Hein of the Libertyville Police Department. No citation was issued to the driver. The student was transported to Condell Medical Center. He was coherent and talking on his way to the hospital, according to a statement by Highland Middle School Principal Jon Hallmark. 

The other Highland Middle School accident occurred on April 11 at 8:10 a.m., when a 13-year-old female student was struck by a car. In this accident, the child was exiting a car parked illegally, in a no parking zone facing east at Rockland Road and Oak Street, according to the police report.

As she exited, she walked around the front of car and walked into the path of a car going eastbound; she did not cross at the crosswalk. The bright sun blinded the driver who did not see her crossing the street, according to Lieutenant Scott Fabbri of the Libertyville Police Department. The driver received a citation for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident.

Condell Medical Center cannot release information about the condition of patients who are minors, according to a spokesperson. However, Robin Kollman,  public relations facilitator for District 70, said the student returned to school on April 13.

The accident involving a 14-year-old Libertyville High School student occurred on April 10, at 3:25 p.m., at the intersection of Route 176 and Dymond Road. Two girls were attempting to cross the street from north to south. A car stopped and the driver waved to the girls to cross. However, a second westbound vehicle didn't see the first car stopped and rear-ended it. This caused the first car to strike one of the girls, according to Lieutenant Fabbri. The girl was transported to Condell Medical Center. The second driver received a citation for failure to reduce speed to avoid an accident and no proof of insurance.

Kollman reiterated that the entire community needs to take precautions to ensure students' safety on their way to and from school.

"We talked to Highland students right after the April 11 accident and talked to the students again at lunch today to remind them of rules of the road," Kollman said. "Exit west-bound vehicles only so that you depart closest to the school, use the crosswalks, look both ways, and be alert to what's around you. It takes an entire community to ensure safety -- students, parents other adults driving past our schools. All drivers need to remember that the speed limit around schools is 20-miles-per-hour; pedestrians in a crosswalk have the right of way, and you may not use your cell phones in a school zone," she said.