EXCLUSIVE: News 12 uncovers police data that shows 19 children struck by vehicles in Ramapo in 6 months
News 12 has reported about six children hit by school buses, cars and minivans within the town in the last six months.
More Stories
News 12 has discovered a disturbing trend of children struck by vehicles in Ramapo, just days after a toddler was hit by a minivan.
News 12 has reported about six children hit by school buses, cars and minivans within the town in the last six months. But shockingly, in the search for more information, News 12 has learned from Ramapo police that a total of 19 children have been hit in town since the start of the year.
News 12 went to one neighborhood near a school in New Square, at the intersection of Clinton Lane and Stern Street, where a toddler was hit this week, and an 8-year-old boy was killed in January.
Several young children were seen seemingly playing unsupervised inches away from the road. There were school buses and cars whizzing down the narrow, congested neighborhood street. Children were seen playing and walking along the road, people were seen walking outside of crosswalks and while driving there, a motorist nearby was seen running a stop sign.
Despite the accidents and obvious close calls, one driver who stopped to speak to News 12 says there’s no problem.
“This over here by the school is very safe,” said the motorist. “They’re trying to take care of everything. The buses are very safe.”
Some buses, however, weren’t seen driving safely nearby in Monsey last month when concerned residents sent News 12 videos of several incidents, including one where a school bus was seen passing a truck on the wrong side of the road and almost hitting another school bus head on.
Ramapo police say the private school bus driver in that incident was eventually identified and two other private school bus drivers were ticketed for hitting kids.
Town officials say they’re working with lawmakers, educators, drivers and the community to improve pedestrian safety in the community.
According to AAA, pedestrian accidents involving children are on the rise nationwide.
