Student Hit By Car Near High School In Fairfax County Amid Crossing Guard Dispute

RESTON, VA — A 16-year-old student was taken to a hospital with minor injuries Tuesday morning after being struck by a vehicle while walking to South Lakes High School, according to Fairfax County Police.

Officers responded to the school just before 8 a.m. Tuesday for a reported traffic crash. Police said a preliminary investigation found that the driver of a vehicle struck the student while the teen was walking to school. The driver remained at the scene.

Police said the student was not in a crosswalk when the crash occurred and was not at a location that previously had been assigned a crossing guard. Officers continue to investigate the crash.

The driver was charged with failure to stop before entering a highway, which is a traffic infraction and punishable by a fine, under the Code of Virginia.

Meren Calls For Restoration Of High School Crossing Guards

The crash prompted Fairfax County School Board Member Melanie Meren, who represents the Hunter Mill District, to renew her call for the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors to restore crossing guards at county high schools.

"A student got hit by a car at South Lakes High School today, day seven," Meren said in a statement Tuesday. She called out Chairman Jeff McKay and the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors for cutting funding to pay for crossing guards at the county's high schools.

"Is it time yet, Jeff McKay?," Meren said "Is it time yet for a crossing guard at our high schools to protect our children and residents?"

Meren has been criticizing the county's decision to eliminate high school crossing guard services as part of budget reductions.

In an email Tuesday morning, Meren said the crash occurred on the seventh school day without crossing guards since the Board of Supervisors approved a county budget that cut the services. She tied the reduction to the county's decision to provide a tax cut and called on supervisors to restore high school crossing guards immediately.

Meren also said teachers and school staff attempted to help control traffic after the collision until police officers and emergency responders arrived.

"Surely it's worth the resources to save our children," Meren said in a video posted to YouTube. "Surely it's not worth it to spend money on emergency services. We could rather fund a crossing guard for a few $1,000 a year, but instead we have a hurt student."

Police's preliminary account, however, indicates that Tuesday's collision did not occur at a location where the eliminated crossing guard program previously provided a guard.

Meren's criticism comes after a public dispute earlier this year with McKay over the crossing guard cuts.

Patch reached out to McKay on Tuesday for comment about the crash and Meren's renewed call to restore the crossing guards.

Police said the investigation into the crash remains ongoing.