Crossing guard struck at Fort Mill high school months after another was killed in town

FORT MILL, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — Shattered glass still covered parts of Fort Mill Parkway at the entrance of Catawba Ridge High School hours after a morning crash sent one driver to the hospital along with a crossing guard.

“It’s getting busier every month, so I definitely highly recommend having some sort of flashing light or something to make people aware,” said neighbor Jeff Bullock.

The crash became the talk of the neighborhood in Nims Village across the street.

Fort Mill Police say two cars got into a collision at the entrance of the high school, and one of them hit the woman directing traffic. One of those drivers and the crossing guard were taken to the hospital. The police chief says the crossing guard was conscious when the ambulance arrived on scene.

“The thing we’d like people most to consider is that school zones, just by the nature of their presence and the activity going on, require extra caution,” said Fort Mill PD Administrative Capt. Steven Bivins.

While police haven’t determined the exact cause of the collision, the Fort Mill Fire Department’s Facebook page is full of theories from community members. Some say drivers need to be more aware. Others say the sun at that time of day is a real concern.

Multiple neighbors told us the same thing.

“Angle of the sun that time of day makes it hard to see, so I can see how drivers could have an accident,” said Bullock.

It’s the second time this calendar year a crossing guard has been hit by a car in Fort Mill. In March, 61-year-old Stanley Brucker was killed after being hit by a car outside Fort Mill Elementary School. He was the third crossing guard hit in the town in six years.

After this most recent incident, the school district released a statement to parents and staff encouraging people to exercise caution when traveling through school zones. Police are echoing that sentiment while the Fort Mill community is hoping more safety measures, such as a crosswalk, are considered with even more kids headed to the high school in the coming years.

“Vast majority have kids that are going there or will be soon,” Bullock said.

Police did not elaborate on the age of both drivers involved. The school district said it’s hopeful that both the driver and crossing guard will have a speedy recovery.

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