ABC27 WHTM Concerns about crosswalk safety discussed following fatal accident

Concerns about crosswalk safety discussed following fatal accident

On October 27th, two teen boys were hit by a car while trick-or-treating in Lower Allen Township.  The two were crossing Carlisle Street in a crosswalk.

One of the boys, 14 year-old Skylar Wenger, died from his injuries.  Parents whose children use the same crosswalk to get to Highland Elementary School say they have expressed safety concerns for years.

April Filer and other parents again discussed those concerns at a Lower Allen Township meeting Monday night.  She worries that drivers don't notice the crosswalk.

"The crosswalk is not noticeable to traffic, it's easily ignored because it's not obvious the lines aren't bright and white," she said.

She and other parents are suggesting a traffic light, overpass or underpass for the students to use.  

Jenine Coffey, who is the crossing guard for that crosswalk, said drivers ignore her stop sign all the time."I absolutely believe someone else will get hit if not lose their life if we don't get a permanent solution to the crossing," she said.

According to Lower Allen Township Police Chief Frank Williamson, the October 27th crash is still under investigation.  Until the factors that caused the crash are determined, he says, they can't solve the problem.

"There's issues possibly with the crosswalk with visibility," he explained, "A whole lot of things we want to take a look at so we are not making judgement just yet."

Parent hope Williamson and others will keep other incidents in mind when determining what to change.   They say another student was hit by a car in the same crosswalk in 2008, and a truck nearly hit a group of students last September.

According to Williamson, a decision will be made with PennDOT officials as well as West Shore School officials after the investigation is complete.