School Leaders Ramp Up Traffic Safety Efforts In Jamestown

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JAMESTOWN – Leaders at Jamestown Public Schools are ramping up efforts to educate kids about traffic safety after three students were hit by vehicles in the past few months, most recently, one resulting in a fatality.

Jamestown Public School Superintendent Dr. Kevin Whitaker tells WNY News Now the principal at Persell Middle School spoke with all students following two incidents where students were struck by vehicles in December.

Since then, the district is working with the City of Jamestown to conduct a traffic study that could bring an additional crosswalk, or even traffic light to the southside neighborhood.

Concerns about traffic safety took a deadly turn last week when a semi-truck struck and killed a 15-year-old who was crossing West 6th Street near Washington Street in Downtown Jamestown.

While the Superintendent admits he doesn’t know all of the circumstances involving the tragedy, he hopes at the very least this will spotlight safety concerns.

“I would hope, among the many blessing that Lexy has given us across her years, this can be a reminder for students, and children in the future, to be as careful as possible when crossing the street, so that they themselves can remain safe,” said Whiatker.

The district has since rolled out mental health professionals to assist students within the district who are grieving her loss.