CALDWELL, Idaho — Neighbors and parents are once again raising safety concerns after a student was hit by a car while walking to school near Caldwell High School on Thursday morning. The student’s mother identified him as Angel Ramirez, a 15-year-old sophomore at the school.
Caldwell Police say Ramirez was struck around 7:40 a.m. while using a crosswalk on South Indiana Avenue. The driver was cited for inattentive driving.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to help Ramirez’s family with rising medical costs, as the student reportedly suffered a shattered pelvis that required surgery. The GoFundMe says Ramirez is currently being treated in a nearby ICU and additional surgeries may be needed.
“I mean I would be incredibly, incredibly upset if it was my child,” said Kellen DeMill.
WATCH: Hear from neighbors regarding Thursdays accident
The crash happened just weeks after new push-button crosswalk lights were installed at the same location, following two student-involved crashes in December — one near Caldwell High School and another near Syringa Middle School.
RELATED | Caldwell installs new safety features after two students hit by cars on crosswalks
Kellen DeMill, a Caldwell High School parent who lives in the area, says he witnessed the moments after the student was hit while dropping off his daughter.
“A truck just pulls off to the side real quick, and I was like, ‘Oh, that’s kind of weird,’ and the driver gets out and then books it back towards the intersection,” DeMill said. “I look, and there’s a student laying on the ground, you know, just wadded up.”
Neighbors say this stretch of South Indiana Avenue has seen repeated close calls, and some question whether recent safety upgrades are enough.
“I’m shocked. I don’t understand what’s wrong with people,” said Jim Alpaugh, a longtime Caldwell resident. “Can’t they see flashing lights? It just amazes me.”
See the crosswalk where the accident happened
DeMill echoed similar concerns.
“Sheer shock. I mean, this is the third one that’s happened over there,” he said. “They said they did improvements, but I don’t know if they’re even really working because this shouldn’t have happened.”
RELATED | Two Caldwell students hit by cars in crosswalks within 24 hours
On Wednesday, the City of Caldwell posted a video outlining school zone safety improvements being made across the city. According to the city, those efforts include increased street lighting near crosswalks, pedestrian flashers and school zone beacons, sidewalk repairs, and upgraded lighting wattage in some areas with the help of Idaho Power.
This is at least the second time a student has been hit at the same intersection in just over a month.
RELATED | Back-to-back student accidents raise alarm over school zone safety in Caldwell
As previously reported, the city added new safety measures after two student-involved crashes in December. Those upgrades include push-button-activated crosswalk lights at Indiana Avenue and Fairoaks Drive, along with flashing beacons at other schools across the district.
Idaho News 6 is working to learn more details about Thursday morning’s crash.
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