By JO-MARIE BROWN
The father of a young boy who was run over on a pedestrian crossing outside his school is furious the Waitakere City Council has ignored pleas to improve the crossing's safety.
Novi Marikena's eight-year-old son, Mihaka, was hit outside the Te Kura Kaupapa Maori o Hoani Waititi primary school on West Coast Rd, Glen Eden, about 4.30 pm on Thursday.
A car had stopped to allow Mihaka to cross but was shunted forward and into the boy when a school bus slammed into it.
Mihaka was rushed to Starship children's hospital with a fractured skull, spinal injuries, and a broken collarbone and shoulder.
Yesterday, he had surgery to insert metal plates into his shattered legs.
Mihaka's classmate Koanga Rangihuna, 8, visited the hospital yesterday and stared in disbelief at his battered friend.
But the situation was all too real for Mr Marikena, as the community had lobbied the council to install traffic lights and more signs around the crossing for the past three years.
"We've been pleading with the council that this was going to happen for years. We need lights to slow down traffic and signs warning them there's a school there and kids will be crossing," Mr Marikena said.
The pedestrian crossing, on a straight stretch of road, was marked with standard yellow warning lights but there were no signs warning motorists that children might be nearby.
The school, where Mr Marikena teaches, is down a side road that had been recently upgraded to improve access to a nearby soccer club and swimming centre.
More traffic was passing the school as a result, and more pedestrian crossings and signs were needed, Mr Marikena said.
Council spokesman Dai Bindoff said the safety of roads around the school and the marae had been reviewed recently.
"As a result, there is a recommendation already written to remove the present crossing and replace it with a better system with traffic islands."
"Unfortunately [Thursday's] accident occurred before the recommendation could be put to the council."
The police investigation into the cause of the accident is still under way and no charges have yet been laid.
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