Crosswalk Danger
Parents campaign for crossing guard at Neal & Gilespie
Las Vegas, NV (KTNV) -- For seven months Action News has been campaigning to make crosswalks safer in our valley.
At one Valley intersection, there's a crosswalk but no crossing guard. You would think the solution would be simple, just put a guard there. But the reason why one can't go there may be one you've never heard of before.
"It's really unsafe," said Tony Everett Junior.
"There's just too many kids that cross that don't cross in the crosswalk," said Danielle Young.
That's why Danielle says a crossing guard would help. Her son goes to Steve Schorr Elementary and while there's a crossing guard near the school at Placid and Neal, there isn't one as he continues to walk home at Neal and Gilespie.
"If there were a crossing guard there they would know better, they would know not to break the rules," said Danielle.
Danielle thinks with that supervision kids would get off their bikes and walk them through the crosswalk. She also thinks we'd see fewer kids crossing mid -block. Danielle says her son walks a different way because there isn't a crossing guard there.
"I understand they're in the right area there but they need to be up here too," said Danielle.
Dad Tony Everett picks his son up every day for that very same reason.
"I seen many cars come through here and they don't stop," said Tony.
So Danielle emailed Action News.
We did some digging and learned a crossing guard can't be at that location. The reason surprised us. Las Vegas police handle crossing guards for the school district and say it all comes down to sidewalks.
While one side of the intersection has a sidewalk some of the other corners don't. Metro says that's a requirement to put a paid crossing guard there. There must also be proper signs up and right now this is only a three way stop because a section of Gilepsie isn't finished.
"The sidewalks are extremely important not only for the guards but also for the kids," explained Metro Police Officer Jose Hernandez.
But there is another option, a volunteer could man the intersection. Officer Hernandez says it is up to the school to put out a note to parents about recruiting a volunteer.
"Once the principal agrees that yes, we'd like to use you as a volunteer then they would contact our office," said Officer Hernandez.
Volunteers go through the same background check as paid crossing guards, but they're allowed to be at intersections with unfinished sidewalks.
"I just want to see more action from the police department or the school district making sure that they kids are safe in this area," said Danielle.
So to get the ball rolling, Action News made a call to the school district.
As a result of our investigation, they're now going to call the principal at Steve Schorr Elementary to see if a note calling for volunteers can go out soon. Until then, Danielle has a message for parents.
"I believe that the parents need to talk to the children and let them know how to cross the streets and where to walk," said Danielle.
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