Longtime Danvers Public Schools Crossing Guard Hit By Car

DANVERS (CBS) – A Danvers Public Schools crossing guard was seriously injured after she was hit by a car Wednesday morning.

It happened around 7:05 a.m. at the intersection of Belgian Road and Poplar Street.

"That car was moving. That car was flying," said Bob Wilichoski, grandfather of a student. "I couldn't believe she was going that fast."

Danvers Police said the woman, a longtime crossing guard, was taken to Beverly Hospital with serious injuries. When paramedics arrived, the woman had a head injury and was having difficulties breathing.

The crossing guard was wearing a reflective vest at the time.

"I heard some crying. Then I came downstairs and I could see somebody kneeling over somebody," said a woman who lives nearby.

Massachusetts State Police responded to the scene to investigate along with Danvers Police.

The female driver, who was traveling west on Poplar Street, stopped after the crash. There is no word on potential charges or citations.

"My only hope is that there were no children there to actually witness the accident. That would be awful," said Danvers Fire Chief Bob Pyburn.

Seventh-grader Brett Granger had just crossed with the woman. "She's a nice lady. She talks to me every morning, and I feel bad she got hit," he said.

Melissa Gray was dropping her children off at school when she came across the crash.

"She's been crossing them for years. It's just gut-wrenching. Very, very sad," said Gray, who said the road is dangerous for people crossing the street. "I will not let them cross Route 62 without a crossing guard. Now I'm going to be even more reluctant to let them cross."

Seventh-grader Brenden Lahr saw the woman on the ground. He left school early because he was so impacted by what he saw.

"I couldn't stop thinking about it throughout the school day. I ended up coming home because I couldn't stop thinking about it," he said.

For their part, neighbors are fed up.

"How could you not see a crosswalk and a crossing guard?" asked one neighbor.

"Sometimes they let you cross, other times they go whizzing by," said another. "When you see someone who is in a crosswalk and wants to cross, be kind. Stop and let them go."

In the meantime, the Danvers community is trying to support the crossing guard who has taken many students safely across the street.

"Of course, I hope she's going to recover and everything is going to be alright," said Eugene Maynard, grandfather of a student. "People need to be a little more courteous behind the wheel."