Fort Mill leaders want lower school speed after second crossing guard hit. Will DOT act?
Leaders from Fort Mill and Tega Cay will again ask South Carolina transportation officials to consider lowering the speed limit in school zones after a second crash this year involving a crossing guard outside a school.
"Something needs to be done," said Chris Gray, mayor of Tega Cay . "These are state roads. DOT is going to have to make changes ... These are people putting their lives on the line."
The two municipalities in northern York County and the Fort Mill school district asked for a S.C. Department of Transportation safety review after a crossing guard died in March. The Herald reported in April DOT that declined to lower speed limits in school zones in the Fort Mill school district because speeds already drop from 45 miles per hour to 30 MPH during school hours.
It is still unclear if speed played a role in Tuesday's crash on Fort Mill Parkway at the entrance to Catawba Ridge High School because Fort Mill police said they have not finished their investigation. The crossing guard was hit by one of two vehicles involved in a collision around 8 a.m. The crash was not a fatality but the crossing guard and one driver were hurt, police said. The extent of the injuries remains unclear.
Fort Mill Mayor Guynn Savage said Wednesday SCDOT should take another look at school zone speeds and overall safety after Tuesday's collision.
"We are resilient to get results," Savage said.
Savage said she hopes to have that request for a second DOT review sent by the end of this week.
DOT: No plan to lower speeds
DOT has no plans to lower speed limits in Fort Mill school zones, DOT spokesperson Hannah Robinson told The Herald late Wednesday by email.
However, DOT is reviewing traffic counts near the entrance to Catawba Ridge High School and will determine if any traffic control changes are needed, Robinson said.
After the March crossing guard fatality, DOT reviewed all speed limits in district school zones and did not recommend any changes.
Since the March fatality on Springfield Parkway near the entrance to Fort Mill Middle School and Fort Mill Elementary School, DOT added new speed reduction sings near those schools but kept the speed limit during school hours at 30 miles per hour. DOT also cleared vegetation in the right of way near the school entrance.
In the next month, DOT will install school flashers with a posted speed limit of 30 MPH near Riverview Elementary School, Robinson said.
Does more need to be done?
Savage and Gray said traffic concerns are especially acute for schools along main roads, including Fort Mill and Springfield parkways, which connect to form the Fort Mill Bypass. The bypass is a state road where state officials decide speed limits and put up safety signs. At least 12 district schools are either along the bypass or accessed from it.
Fort Mill has more than 18,000 students at 20 campuses.
Gray has worked three decades in highway construction, including presently for a private company as COO. That company works with road builders and installs traffic signals and related infrastructure. He said said DOT should look at lowering speeds and consider traffic lights at school entrances, better signs and crosswalks.
Fort Mill school district spokesman Joe Burke said as of Wednesday the district has not asked DOT for another safety review. The Fort Mill school board did not address Tuesday's crash at its meeting later that night.
State Sen. Michael Johnson, who represents Fort Mill, Tega Cay and Indian Land, said Wednesday he is talking with Fort Mill town officials to investigate ways to work with DOT to stop the types of incident that happened Tuesday and in March from happening in the future.
Tuesday crash is second crossing guard incident in 2024
Crossing guards in the district work for Cross Safe, a Charlotte company, Burke said. The district contracts with Cross Safe for crossing guards, he said.
The Herald reached out to the president of Cross Safe by phone and email after Tuesday's incident but did not receive a response.
In the March crash, no charges were filed after police and prosecutors said video showed the crossing guard was in the road when hit by a vehicle. Prosecutors said the driver's speed was not a factor in the March crash.
The district sent a statement to families Tuesday after the latest crossing guard incident, asking drivers to be aware in school zones.
"This incident is a reminder of the critical importance of exercising caution and remaining vigilant when traveling through school zones," the statement said. "We urge everyone to take extra care, especially during drop-off and dismissal times. The safety of our students, staff, and community is our top priority, and we ask for your continued cooperation in ensuring that everyone navigates these areas responsibly."
