A driver faces a traffic citation in Toledo Municipal Court for a crash involving two young pedestrians. The court appearance follows a collision near a school crosswalk that injured two young sisters.
An 80-year-old Ottawa Hills woman received a citation on Sept. 29 for failure to obey traffic control devices, according to court records. She is scheduled to appear in Toledo Municipal Court on Oct. 20.
The incident occurred just before 3:15 p.m. on Sept. 4 in front of Hawkins STEAM Academy, police say. School zone warning lights were activated at the time. A crossing guard had signaled the children to cross the street.
The Ottawa Hills woman was driving eastbound on Bancroft Street, according to police. Officers reported the motorist did not slow down in the designated zone. The driver narrowly missed the crossing guard.
The vehicle struck an 11-year-old girl and a 5-year-old girl, according to police. The driver told responding officers that she did not see the children.
The 11-year-old girl suffered several broken bones and head injuries, according to police. The 5-year-old girl sustained injuries to her head. Emergency crews transported both children to a local hospital by ambulance.
The two girls are sisters who attend St. Benedict, according to a school message sent to families. The school administration contacted the household following the collision.
“I have spoken with the family this evening and assured them that they will not walk through this alone,” a message from St. Benedict sent to families read. “These girls are Ravens, and they are part of our St. Benedict family. We will surround them with our prayers, love, and support and will do whatever we can to help their family in the days and weeks ahead.”
The message asked the community to keep the affected families in their prayers. Crosswalk enforcement in Toledo handles traffic control violations to ensure pedestrian safety across school routes. Citations require an appearance or plea through the municipal court system.
The citation does not constitute a criminal charge.
