KIMBERLY, WI (WTAQ) – Police say the driver who struck a 14-year-old girl outside Kimberly High School on Wednesday will not be cited.
Fox Valley Metro police say the crash happened at the intersection of Kennedy Avenue and Washington Street (Hwy. N) just before 3:15 p.m.
Officials say the girl was walking north on Washington Street when she crossed in front of traffic and was hit by a vehicle headed west on Kennedy Avenue.
“It was determined that the east and westbound traffic on Kennedy Avenue had the green light at that time and the pedestrian had entered the crosswalk without the right-of-way, not with a walk signal,” says Officer Michael Lambie, Fox Valley Metro Police Department. “The driver wasn’t able to see them due to their vision being obstructed from another vehicle, the two ended up colliding, resulting in the injury.”
Lambie says a westbound mid-size SUV stopped alongside and waited to turn left.
The girl was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
“Kimberly High School is unique in the fact that it’s a very large high school in the area and it only has one entry and exit,” Lambie explains. “Obviously that does play into this issue. You have a lot of students, staff and parents exiting and entering at the same time, both in the morning and in the afternoon. With the influx of people and traffic, it naturally and inevitably does bring forward issues.”
Lambie says this serves as a reminder to both drivers and pedestrians to plan ahead by leaving early and eliminate distractions in order to remain safe in that high traffic area.
