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Girl hit by car on way to bus stop Date published: 4/9/2009
BY ELLEN BILTZ
A Caroline High School student was hit Tuesday morning by a car as she walked to her bus stop. Allison Whipley, 15, was left with a concussion and has four staples in her head as a result of the incident, her mother, Lori Whipley, said yesterday. Lori Whipley said her daughter walks about a mile down Glen Cove Drive in the Lake Land'Or subdivision west of Ladysmith every morning to catch the bus, but on Tuesday, her walk was cut short. At about 6:15 a.m., a Chevrolet Impala struck the teen as she walked along the side of the road with traffic, Sgt. Tom Cunningham of the state police said yesterday. He said the girl was taken by ambulance to Mary Washington Hospital. The driver of the car was not charged, Cunningham said. Because Lake Land'Or is a private subdivision and the roads are not maintained by the state or county, Cunningham said no official police report was filed, pursuant to Virginia law. However, Trooper S.T. Melson did respond to the scene to investigate, Cunningham said. Lori Whipley said yesterday that her daughter is going to be okay, but she is worried about kids who walk to the bus stops in the subdivision. There are two bus stops for students who live within the gated community and no sidewalks or streetlights on the roads, she said. Whipley said she plans to petition the subdivision for some action to put up lights and, in the meantime, may talk to the school system about adding additional bus stops so students don't have to walk as far. Ellen Biltz: 540/374-5424
The bus stops are chosen by the subdivision. If you think there should be more stops you have to take that up with the HOA. The school bus stops where they are told to by the HOA. I drive a bus and the roads in the lake sudivisions are narrow and very winding. Most are not safe to drive a bus down.
The middle and high school start at about 7:25. As I said before, my daughter gets on the bus at 6:30. Most of the year it is still pitch black out when she gets on the bus. We get a little break when the time changes in the fall but not for long. I'm glad it's light right now when she gets on the bus.
That time of the morning it is STILL DARK & the only thing moving in the shadows are deer. If you do have to walk you need to protect yourself by walking against traffic & wearing a reflective vest. Some people don't wake up fully until they have gotten out of Lak Land Or & gotten a cup of coffee...
What time does school start? Do kids really have to walk to the school bus stop in the dark? How long is that bus ride compared to driving the kids to school? Just wondering how families handle all the options. I know there have been days where we've driven to work early and it was very hard to see the kids! It's good that the speed limit is only 25 mph.
I live in an apartment complex, and parents drive 1/4 mile to the road at the end of our complex to wait for the school bus. Did I mention they park facing the wrong way in the road while they wait for the school bus? Just so they can drive their kid home. 2 blocks! Parents, teach your kids to walk against traffic, and ride with it!
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