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 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.”
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.