HOLYOKE, Mass. (WWLP) – A sixth-grade student is recovering in the hospital after being struck by a car on Main Street while walking to school on Friday morning.
Truck stuck under railroad trestle in West Springfield In a news release sent to 22News from Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia’s office, a sixth-grade student was seriously injured. According to the Holyoke Police Department, at around 8:15 a.m. officers completely closed the road from 915 Main Street to Day Avenue. The road has since reopened.
Victor Machado of Holyoke was one of the first people to jump to action after the 12- year-old girl was hit by an SUV on her way to school, “I saw the vehicle stop here in the front with the little girl on the car and quickly. I respond to him to help the little girl,” said Machado.
And a few cars down the road was Juan Cruz, school resource officer within the Holyoke Public Schools, he was able help the young girl as they waited for help.
“He was right there. He was holding her hand. He was able to talk to her and just kinda calm her down a little bit while the ambulance got there,” said School Superintendent Anthony Soto.
This street now an area of concern for residents who have children that walk to and from school everyday.
Machado continued saying, “There needs to be more monitoring and the speed limit needs to be reduced a little in this area so that pedestrians have the opportunity to cross the street.”
The city is working on potential plans to make the area more secure, according to Mayor Garcia, “There have been traffic calming measures on that we’ve been installing around the city to help slow down traffic.”
Within hours of this tragedy happening the city of Holyoke displayed an outpouring of community support by creating a emergency relief fund for the family. The school department also provided relief and counseling to students and staff across the district
MAP: Main Street in Holyoke
The crash is being investigated and no further details were released at this time.
Mayor Garcia has created an emergency relief fund to support the family. Donations can be made on Venmo to @growholyoke, Paypal to Greater Holyoke Chamber of Commerce, or by check to the Holyoke Chamber of Commerce.
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