By LAURA AUSTIN News Review Staff Writer–
On Monday evening, February 6, shortly after 6 PM, officers from the Ridgecrest Police Department (RPD) were dispatched to the 300 block of W. Church Ave., in front of the James Monroe Middle School, for a reported vehicle versus pedestrian traffic collision.
/ Laura Austin Photo
Upon arrival, officers found a female adult pedestrian lying face down on the north side of the roadway in front of the school. Emergency personnel worked diligently to stabilize the victim. She was transported by Liberty Ambulance to another location, where Mercy Air flew her to a trauma center.
According to authorities who conducted a preliminary investigation, evidence indicated that the pedestrian was crossing the street by James Monroe Middle School and was struck by a vehicle traveling westbound on W. Church Ave.
The vehicle driver waited at the scene for officers to collect their statement. The area was closed for several hours while the traffic division continued the investigation.
A school event was in process at the time of the accident; Amy Self, the Sierra Sands School District Principal of James Monroe Middle School, notified families of her students that there had been an accident in front of the school that evening. She explained that first responders were on site, asking that the area be clear. She continued by canceling any remaining practices for the night and assured parents that the accident was unrelated to school activities.
Because the campus was not accessible by Church St. for several hours, the School District and RPD worked together to remove students from the area safely. Parents could pick up their children from the campus on the East side of the school, a distance away from the accident.
The accident was the second vehicle vs. pedestrian within two days. On Sunday evening, shortly before 6 PM, a boy traveling on a scooter was struck by a vehicle while crossing at the intersection of Norma and Ward avenues. He was transported by ambulance to RRH with head injuries. Investigations for both incidents are ongoing.
