MEMPHIS, Tenn. (localmemphis.com) – A Grahamwood Elementary crossing guard is recovering at home and expected to be okay after she was hit by a car while patrolling.
Authorities are investigating the incident, but parents say the area of Faxon Avenue and North Graham is a speed trap and they are worried the next incident could be deadly.
The city of Memphis has spent millions of dollars for speed cameras to go live at multiple school zones this November, but it doesn’t include Grahamwood.
“And I can’t tell you how many adults just crossing to get their children and cars just blow right through,” said parent Hannah Shipley.
Parents of kids at Grahamwood Elementary are pushing for change after longtime crossing guard, Flora Wallace, was hit by a car Wednesday afternoon.
“For her to be thrown out of her shoe and her cell phone to be in another area that’s not on her, that impact was pretty hard,” said Kimberly Oliver, who has two kids at Grahamwood Elementary.
Kids and parents witnessed what happened. They say cars speed through this area daily and the traffic has been an ongoing problem.
“We have an intersection down here with stop signs, an intersection down here with stop lights and that regulates traffic, but right here as we just saw a man comes speeding through probably close to 20 miles per hour. That’s enough to kill a child,” Shipley explained.
Members of Grahamwood PTO say they’ve reached out to school leaders and the city of Memphis for some sort of solution and while speed bumps were added, they say it’s still not enough.
“Personally as a mom I would ask for more police presence here. I know you guys are busy and I respect that, but get out here and write some tickets,” Shipley said.
“They also need to have a sign when you come from Macon up Graham to let people know that there is a school zone, same way coming down if you’re coming up Walnut Grove they need signs to let them know that there are schools here,” Oliver explained.
Local 24 News reached out to Memphis City Councilman Worth Morgan and the city of Memphis to see if there are plans to upgrade this area.
Parents also tell us on October 2, they will host a “walk your kid to school day” to raise awareness about the safety issues.