Speeding, texting, and talking on the phone are just a few distractions Clarksville crossing guards see coming through school zones. So far this school year, which began August 7, Clarksville Police have handed out more than 150 tickets for school zone and school bus-related violations, ranging from speeding to improper passing of a bus.
Three guards visited the Mayor last week to ask for help with getting drivers to pay more attention. They say their mission is to get the kids to school and home safely and they ask drivers to help do the same.
"They're not doing 20 miles an hour zone and it’s a little scary out there when you're on a double yellow line and they're flying by you," said Barbie Hemmingsen.
Hemmingsen has been a crossing guard for one year. She says distracted drivers are making it hard for students and guards to stay safe. Just last week, a crossing guard was hit by a pickup truck on the job.
The crossing guard was wearing her reflective safety vest and holding a stop sign near the crosswalk. Police say when she had stopped traffic the pickup made a left turn striking her in the upper arm with its driver side mirror.
It's something Raphaela Velasquez knows firsthand. She was severely hurt last year when she was hit by a car doing her job as well.
"He had hit me, and I went airborne, busted the windshield and down to the concrete," she had to get 14 stitches and was out of work for months. She doesn't remember much from that day but to hear that it happened to another guard, she says it made her sick.
Hemmingsen says she doesn't want to fear her job but she wants drivers to slow down when they see those lights in school zones flashing and kids trying to cross.
"I’m not a police officer, I’m a crossing guard and my main priority is the children," she said.
Speeding in a school zone can get you a $269 and points on your license.
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