Student hit by vehicle at St. Albert School
Driver hit gas, not brake
The driver was parked exactly where the car is on the right of the frame, hit the gas instead of the brake while reversing, whipped around clipping a student, continued traveling in reverse down these steps and through the first two driveway cones scraping past two buses before coming to a rest on the hill in front of the original parking spot. This entire accident was one complete circle. Only one student was harmed but luckily suffered no significant injuries. Photo by JAIME ANTON
NORTH ROYALTON – St. Albert the Great School leaders said they are thankful a tragedy was averted during a car accident there May 17.
At approximately 3:37 p.m., a 79-year-old Parma grandmother struck a student and two North Royalton school buses when she inadvertently pushed the accelerator instead of the brake while reversing from her parking space.
The woman had just picked up her grandson during dismissal. Her car was parked roughly four spaces south of the parking lot stairway directly in front of the school. When she hit the gas and reversed, her vehicle rotated out of the space in a complete clockwise circle traveling through the zoned off area designated for student pick up.
Her car, still in reverse, clipped an eighth-grader with the passenger mirror, but the impact pushed him aside. The car then continued backward down the stairway, taking out railing, then clipped the back of the first bus and the front of the second bus behind it as the car spun around and came to a stop on the hill almost directly in front of where it was originally parked.
Principal Ed Vittardi said the school’s emergency preparedness includes direct radio communication with the police department.
“I was able to radio them instantaneously and their response time was incredible,” he said.
School Resources Officer Jon Karl was on Ridge Road near Royalwood Road when Vittardi radioed and responded to the scene within 30 seconds or so.
He was bracing himself for the worst.
“It’s a very busy time of day. It’s not unusual for 60-100 people to be in that area,” Karl said, gesturing to where the accident occurred. “One of the teachers pushed a number of students out of the way. The entire school and the family are all relieved this wasn’t more serious.”
Karl said about five people in total were checked out by North Royalton paramedics, but only the student who was clipped was transported to UH Parma Medical Center. He was later released with no broken bones or significant injuries. The driver and her grandson were unharmed.
The buses received minor damage and did not need to be taken out of rotation.
This accident is still under investigation. Police have the authority to issue a citation, in this instance either failure to maintain reasonable control or reckless operation would be appropriate, Karl said, though a citation had not been decided upon or issued as of May 19.
Police also have the authority to recommend the woman be retested for a new driver’s license. The police would issue a report the police chief would review and approve. It would then be submitted to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
“The bureau would then review the facts and take the administrative action to recommend the test or not,” Karl said.
At approximately 3:37 p.m., a 79-year-old Parma grandmother struck a student and two North Royalton school buses when she inadvertently pushed the accelerator instead of the brake while reversing from her parking space.
The woman had just picked up her grandson during dismissal. Her car was parked roughly four spaces south of the parking lot stairway directly in front of the school. When she hit the gas and reversed, her vehicle rotated out of the space in a complete clockwise circle traveling through the zoned off area designated for student pick up.
Her car, still in reverse, clipped an eighth-grader with the passenger mirror, but the impact pushed him aside. The car then continued backward down the stairway, taking out railing, then clipped the back of the first bus and the front of the second bus behind it as the car spun around and came to a stop on the hill almost directly in front of where it was originally parked.
Principal Ed Vittardi said the school’s emergency preparedness includes direct radio communication with the police department.
“I was able to radio them instantaneously and their response time was incredible,” he said.
School Resources Officer Jon Karl was on Ridge Road near Royalwood Road when Vittardi radioed and responded to the scene within 30 seconds or so.
He was bracing himself for the worst.
“It’s a very busy time of day. It’s not unusual for 60-100 people to be in that area,” Karl said, gesturing to where the accident occurred. “One of the teachers pushed a number of students out of the way. The entire school and the family are all relieved this wasn’t more serious.”
Karl said about five people in total were checked out by North Royalton paramedics, but only the student who was clipped was transported to UH Parma Medical Center. He was later released with no broken bones or significant injuries. The driver and her grandson were unharmed.
The buses received minor damage and did not need to be taken out of rotation.
This accident is still under investigation. Police have the authority to issue a citation, in this instance either failure to maintain reasonable control or reckless operation would be appropriate, Karl said, though a citation had not been decided upon or issued as of May 19.
Police also have the authority to recommend the woman be retested for a new driver’s license. The police would issue a report the police chief would review and approve. It would then be submitted to the Ohio Bureau of Motor Vehicles.
“The bureau would then review the facts and take the administrative action to recommend the test or not,” Karl said.