Last Updated on November 29, 2022, 10:17 PM | Published: November 29, 2022
OKLAHOMA CITY — A child was struck in a crosswalk by a car making a turn Tuesday during the morning rush hour in downtown Oklahoma City near John Rex Charter School.
The incident occurred in the intersection of W. Sheridan Ave and N. Dewey Street in Film row on the northwest corner of the John Rex School campus.
The child was being walked to the school by a parent along with another child.
Close call
Sgt. Dillon Quirk with the Oklahoma City Police Department told Free Press that two children were walking in the crosswalk with their parent at the intersection of Sheridan and Dewey when a driver in a vehicle turning across the crosswalk hit one of the children.
The parent pushed the other child out of the way in time.
Quirk said that the children were “checked out on the scene and then driven by EMSA to an area hospital just to be double-checked. But they were okay.” He also said that officers who were at the scene said the “parent seemed fine.”
An Oklahoma City Fire Department spokesperson said that their companies that responded to the emergency were eventually released from the scene and the child was left with EMSA.
One parent told Free Press that parents who were there and saw it happen were “traumatized” by seeing the child get hit.
Immediate school policy changes
One parent who asked to remain anonymous forwarded a message that had been sent close to 7 p.m. Tuesday from the John Rex Head of School (principal) Lana Ingram to all parents. It read:
In light of the most recent incident during morning drop off on Tuesday, we are taking immediate action to ensure the safety of our students, families and staff.
• We are permanently closing the north/blue gate drop off and pick up area. All walkers will be directed to the school’s front door for morning drop off and afternoon pick up. As a reminder, the walking option is intended for students who live walking distance to the school. o Drop off: the front door will open promptly at 7:45 for students whose parents walk them to the school building.
Students MUST be walked to the door by a parent. This door will close at 8:00 and any students must then be checked in as tardy by a parent.
• Pick up: parents who typically pick up at the north/blue gate will use the same procedures as before, but at the front door. Please ensure you have your car tag in hand and stay outside on the sidewalk behind the cones. Students will be called down to meet you there.
• We ask that no families cross Sheridan except for at the lit crosswalks at the intersection of Sheridan and Walker. A staff member will be directing families to walk down the block to cross only at the light.
• There is a designated accessible parking spot in front of the school’s front doors that is only for use by those needing special assistance into the school. We ask all parents to leave that spot open for students and families who need accessible support to get into school.
• Our Traffic Committee met today and are making the following requests of the city’s Public Works Department and the citv’s Traffic Commission
• Immediate white crosswalk striping at all four crosswalks at Dewey and Sheridan
• A 4-way stop sign be placed at Dewey and Sheridan, requiring all drivers to stop at that intersection
• A 3-way stop sign be placed at Walker and California, requiring all drivers to stop at that intersection
• A “Right Turn Only” sign to be posted on Dewey for West Gate drop off requiring all cars to go right only on Sheridan during drop off and pick up hours
• A “No Right Turn” sign to be posted on California, preventing cars from turning north onto Dewey during drop off and pick up hours
• Long term, we are asking the city for a full stop light at Dewey and Sheridan and a half-block signaled crosswalk at Walker and California. This often takes years to get approved, but the request will be made to get the ball rolling.
We want to assure you that student, family and staff safety is what is most important to us. We appreciate evervone’s patience as habits are changed. There will be the need for input from stakeholders in the future as we continue to work on these requests, so please keep your eyes out for ways in which your voice will be needed. We thank you for your support and feedback as we continue to ensure safety at John Rex.
Free Press will continue to report new developments about vehicle and pedestrian traffic around John Rex Charter School and along Film Row.
Founder, publisher, and editor of Oklahoma City Free Press. Brett continues to contribute reports and photography to this site as he runs the business.
