INDIANAPOLIS — Indianapolis Public Schools leaders are pleading for drivers to slow down, following a hit-and-run crash Tuesday morning that sent a North West Middle School student to the hospital.
Police said the 12-year-old girl was hit just before 7 a.m. at the intersection of West 34th Street and North High School Road.
According to police, the girl was taken to Riley Hospital for Children in stable condition.
"We're heartbroken about the circumstances that occurred this morning on her way to [school]," IPS Commissioner Evan Hawkins said. "Kids should not have to worry about being hit by a vehicle on their way to school."
The school district released a statement Tuesday morning and said the girl's parents were notified of the incident.
"We will continue to monitor the student’s progress and hope that police will find the person responsible," IPS said in the statement. "Speeding and distracted driving in school zones are a problem throughout our city. It’s a problem that needs to be addressed, quickly."
Phil Shults, the principal of North West Middle School, said crossing guards are usually on duty at that intersection, however, it's unclear if one was there during the time of the accident.
"It's dark. Our students often wear dark clothing, they have dark backpacks on and as drivers, we just need to be aware of our surroundings and being in a school zone," Shults said.
The girl isn’t the only student to be hit at the intersection this school year.
Quentin Patton, a sophomore at Crispus Attucks High School, said he was injured while trying to catch his bus near 34th Street and North High School Road.
“This car just sped by me and swiped me on my knee. I had to crawl out of the road to get back home,” he said. “I was just lying in the road. I didn’t know what to do.”
Patton said the driver in his case also didn’t stop to help. With no other choice, he had to walk home injured.
“My son came crawling in crying and said he just got hit, so we had to call an ambulance,” said his mom, Jerry Patton.
The hit-and-run left Quentin in physical therapy and on crutches for months.
“Now [the bus] is dropping me off at the house because I am too scared to walk across these roads,” Patton said.
Patton and his mom are pleading with drivers to slow down, saying enough is enough.
“Slow down. Stay off the phones. If you needed to get somewhere that fast, you should’ve left earlier,” Jerry Patton said.
IPS officials said speeding is far too common in school zones.
"This isn't the first time a child has been struck by a vehicle. One time is too many," Hawkins said. "This is horrible and I think further discussion is going to have to happen."
Until then, IPS has this message for the person behind the wheel.
"We ask you to please, please turn yourself in," Hawkins said.
Shults added that the girl was expected to leave the hospital by Tuesday evening and should be able to return to school in the coming days.
Police have not shared information on the suspect or suspect's vehicle that left the scene.
Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call Crime Stoppers of Central Indiana at 317-262-8477.
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