BALLSTON SPA – A 14-year-old Ballston Spa High School student was struck and injured by a car Monday afternoon. She was flown to Albany Medical Center for treatment, sheriff’s officials said.
Saratoga County sheriff’s deputies responded around 2:30 p.m. to reports that a vehicle had struck a pedestrian on Ballston Avenue in the area of the school complex.
Police said in a release that the 14-year-old, who was described as a female student in a Facebook post by Mayor Frank Rossi, was struck by a 2010 Ford Focus that was traveling north.
The operator of the car, who was not immediately identified by deputies, remained at the scene and was cooperating in the investigation, officials said.
The investigation is being conducted by the Sheriff’s Office Collision Reconstruction Unit, assisted by a drone and is ongoing. Sheriff Michael Zurlo said no tickets or charges have been issued so far.
District Superintendent Gianleo Duca said that crisis teams will be available tomorrow at the middle and high schools.
Rossi said that while the area where the girl was struck is in the town of Ballston, he has heard from many people that a lot of students will cross Ballston Avenue in order to get to parents or family members who have parked in lots across the street from the high school in an attempt to avoid traffic that builds in the area around dismissal time.
There are no crosswalks on Ballston Avenue.
“I have to really ask here that parents stop using the business parking lot across from the High School to pick up their children,” Rossi said. “It is my understanding that the victim’s father may have been in that lot and watched the collision. The School District is trying mightily to reduce the need for crossing on Ballston Avenue, and we need to do what we can to work with them to help eliminate most unnecessary crossings, especially in light of today’s situation.”
Speeding and other traffic issues are of high concern in the village right now, as Rossi recently announced the creation of an advisory committee to address such issues.
“It gives it a whole new level of urgency, not just in the village but in the town,” he said.
Rossi said he spoke to Ballston Town Supervisor Eric Connelly, who indicated he will ask the Sheriff’s Department to station a detail in that area for the foreseeable future.
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Categories: News, News, Saratoga County, Saratoga Springs
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Thank you for quoting the principal’s victim-blaming reaction to this tragedy. Ballston Avenue near the high school is a two lane street, posted 30 mph with flashing 20 mph school lights. The chance of death or severe injury at 20 mph is less than 10%. Since the child was airlifted to the hospital, we can assume the driver was speeding. That there is no proper crossings at a school is also criminal. We need to treat traffic violence for what it is and stop coddling irresponsible drivers and cities that refuse to build safe streets for all.
Michael King, Trafficcalmer.com