A student road patroller has been run over by a car while on morning crossing duty, the fifth accident involving children travelling to and from school this month.
Cosgrove Primary School, in Papakura, South Auckland, reported the incident occurred at the Clevedon Rd pedestrian crossing before class on Wednesday morning.
“To assure everybody, the student has been checked over at the hospital,” the school told parents on social media.
Hato Hone St John said they were called to the crossing around 8.15am, with police called five minutes later.
The pupil was taken to Middlemore Hospital in a moderate condition.
Diversions were put in place for motorists at the intersection between Clevedon Rd and Cosgrave Rd while the Serious Crash Unit assessed the scene, police said.
Cosgrove School principal Gus Klein has been approached for comment.
Jared Pirret, Counties Manukau Area Commander, told the Herald the crash remains under active investigation.
“We do wish to extend our thoughts to the pedestrian involved and wish them a full and speedy recovery,” Pirret said.
“Police will be increasing patrols around the school crossing to provide reassurance to the community.
“We are also interested in hearing from anyone who may have witnessed the incident or has information that could assist our inquiries.”
The incident marks the fifth time a child has been hit by a car while travelling to and from school in February.
On February 5, a 10-year-old student at Springston School died after he was run over on a rural Canterbury road while walking from a nearby bus stop to his home.
Selwyn Times reported the driver of the vehicle involved was a mother travelling with her children.
A Givealittle page set up to support the family and fundraise for a scholarship to start in the boy’s name has since raised over $15,000.
The following week, on February 9, two Auckland students from separate schools were admitted to Starship children’s hospital with moderate injuries after both were struck by cars within minutes of each other.
The first crash occurred around 8.15am on Whangaparāoa Rd, near the Karepiro Drive intersection, involving a child at Whangaparāoa College.
Police said an “intermediate-aged child” with moderate injuries was “taken to hospital in a stable condition”.
Whangaparāoa College principal Steve McCracken said the injured student was taken by ambulance “with mum next to them”.
About 45 minutes drive south, a Northcote College student was struck shortly after while crossing Ōnewa Rd to school.
Police said they were notified at 8.26am and an “intermediate-aged child” with moderate injuries was taken to hospital.
Hato Hone St John confirmed both students were admitted to Starship, while an email from Northcote College to parents said its student had since been recovering at home.
“We urge you to speak with your child about road safety and the importance of crossing roads responsibly. We are particularly concerned about Ōnewa Rd,” the email read.
“Please reinforce our message to students that people must only cross Ōnewa Rd at the traffic lights.”
On Tuesday morning, a student at Christchurch’s Te Waka Unua School was run over by a car on Ferry Rd, Woolston, while scootering to school, trapping the boy under the vehicle.
Hato Hone St John said it transported one person to Christchurch Hospital in a serious condition after the incident.
Te Waka Unua School principal Janeane Reid said the school was “very saddened” by the incident, and expressed gratitude to those who came to the boy’s aid.
“How our community steps up and wraps around each other during these times shows the real strength of our village,” Reid said.
“Our little boy is now in the hands of the professionals up at the hospital, and we will support the whānau during his recovery.”
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