Girl struck by car walking to bus stop

  • By DAN BALMER
  • Wednesday, November 12, 2014 5:18pm
  • News

A 9-year-old girl was hit by a car while she was walking to a bus stop on Poppy Ridge Road Wednesday.

Alaska State Troopers first responded to the accident, which occurred shortly after 7:30 a.m. The girl had minor injuries and was taken to Central Peninsula Hospital by Central Emergency Services personnel.

The driver of a Ford F-150, Tracy Cunningham, of Soldotna, was traveling down Poppy Ridge Road approaching Bonita Avenue when she observed a child in dark clothing walking in the middle of her lane. Cunningham attempted to swerve into the ditch to avoid the girl, but the driver’s side mirror struck the girl, according to a troopers report.

Troopers didn’t issue Cunningham a citation.

Kenai Peninsula Borough Health and Safety Officer Brad Nelson said there is no sidewalk on Poppy Ridge Road and the girl was wearing all black clothes while it was still dark out. He said the driver didn’t see her until the last second but did her best to avoid hitting the girl directly.

In response to the incident, the Kenai Peninsula Borough School District issued a press release asking parents to make sure their children are visible at bus stops and while walking or riding bikes. The release suggested that students wear reflective tape and bright clothing while traveling to and from school in the dark to increase visibility. Reflective tape is available from Kenai Peninsula Safe Kids and can be placed on jackets, backpacks and caps.

The school district will review the incident regarding the location of bus stops and routes to school and take corrective action if necessary, according to the release.

School officials and community members have expressed safety concerns in the Poppy Ridge Road area with students walking to the nearby Kenai Peninsula College Kenai River Campus and K-Beach Elementary School along the same route.

Recently, the Kenai Peninsula Borough appropriated a state grant of $463,100 to extend a lighted paved pathway on Poppy Lane from Kalifornsky Beach Road to Poppy Ridge Road to the college.

Superintendent Steve Atwater the school district has worked with Alaska Christian College and KPC for three years to request state funding for the lighted pathway before the borough received capital funding for the project in April.

Atwater said, in a previous Clarion interview, he is anxious to see project completed because so many students from the neighborhood walk to school in that area and he is concerned for children’s safety.

Nelson said he has heard of complaints in the area but CES has not had many responses to pedestrians hit in the Poppy neighborhood.

Troopers encouraged drivers to keep headlights clean of debris, watch for students and drive slow in school zones.

Reach Dan Balmer at daniel.balmer@peninsulaclarion.com.

More in News

A towering Lutz spruce, center, in the Chugach National Forest is about to be hoisted by a crane Tuesday, Oct. 27, 2015, for transport to the West Lawn of Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C., to be the 2015 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree. (Photo courtesy of the U.S. Forest Service)
Tongass National Forest selected to provide 2024 U.S. Capitol Christmas Tree

Eight to 10 candidate trees will be evaluated, with winner taking “whistlestop tour” to D.C.

A slash pile containing non-organic construction debris is seen at the Snug Harbor Slash Disposal site on Sept. 22, 2020, in Cooper Landing, Alaska. (Photo courtesy Kenai Peninsula Borough Land Management)
Assembly OKs concrete lease in Cooper Landing

The vote came amid widespread community opposition to the agreement

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
Children hunt for Easter eggs during the Easter Eggstravaganza at Nikiski Community Recreation Center on Saturday.
Easter eggs, bunnies arrive on the Kenai Peninsula

There are plenty of opportunities to grab a photo with the Easter bunny or seek out some eggs

Flier for Bear Awareness and Electric Fencing Workshops. (Provided by Defenders of Wildlife)
Local workshops to focus on managing bear attractants, electric fencing

The series will run Monday through Friday, April 1-5, in Hope, Seward, Kenai, Soldotna and Homer

A person walks up the steps of the Alaska Capitol, Jan. 16, 2023, in Juneau, Alaska. (AP Photo/Becky Bohrer, File)
Some KPBSD schools could benefit from internet bill passed by House

If House Bill 193 becomes law, an additional six KPBSD schools would be eligible for the state’s grant program

Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion
A veterinarian with Greater Good Charities escorts dog Maggie into a free spay/neuter clinic at the Moose Pass Fire Station on Thursday.
Moose Pass rallies behind free spay and neuter clinic

The clinic was put on by Greater Good Charities Good Fix program

Signage marks the entrance to Nikiski Middle/High School on Monday, May 16, 2022, in Nikiski, Alaska. (Ashlyn O’Hara/Peninsula Clarion)
Nikiski student arrested after school shooting threats

The juvenile student faces charges of terroristic threatening

Armageddon waits to be shown at the Kenai Peninsula District 4-H Agriculture Expo on Friday, Aug. 4, 2023, at the Soldotna Regional Sports Complex in Soldotna, Alaska. (Jake Dye/Peninsula Clarion)
Bjorkman farm tax relief bill clears Senate

The bill is now up for consideration in the House

Most Read