A 71-year-old New Jersey crossing guard was injured Wednesday after being hit by a car while helping children across an intersection.
Officers responded to 911 calls around 8:40 a.m. in Fair Lawn, a suburb in Bergen County, and found the man lying in the street outside Forrest Elementary School with injuries to his legs.
An investigation determined the crossing guard was helping children when he was struck by a Toyota Camry making a left turn at the intersection of Arnold Street and Hooper Avenue. The driver, a 22-year-old man, stayed at the scene.
The crossing guard was taken to St. Joseph’s University Medical Center in Paterson with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Dr. Rui Dionisio, the superintendent of Fair Lawn Public Schools, released a statement later on Wednesday to assure parents no children had been hurt.
“This incident serves as an important reminder about traffic safety in our school zones. Our crossing guards play a vital role in ensuring the safety of our students, and we must all do our part to protect them by remaining vigilant and cautious while driving near schools,” Dionisio said. “The safety and well-being of our students, staff, and crossing guards remain our highest priority.”
