Editor's Note: A previous version of this story stated two kids were killed in the incident due to incorrect information initially given by police. This story has since been corrected to report only one person has died.
LAWRENCE — Two children were struck, one fatally, while crossing the street Saturday evening in Lawrence, according to police.
An 11-year-old and 15-year-old were struck in the 4400 block of North Post Road, Lawrence Police Department Deputy Chief Gary Woodruff said. The 11-year-old died. The 15-year-old is in serious condition but is expected to survive.
The kids involved in the incident are siblings, Woodruff said.
The driver who struck the kids stayed on the scene, Woodruff said. Police do not believe drugs or alcohol are factors in the crash.
Marion County Chief Deputy Coroner Alfie McGinty identified the 11-year-old as Isai Raymundo.
On Sunday afternoon, City-County councilors La Keisha Jackson (District 14) and Keith Graces (District 14) released the following statement on the incident:
We are heartbroken to learn that last night, two young brothers out enjoying the summer night on their bikes were struck by a car as they attempted to cross Post Road. One brother, just 11 years old, was killed; his 15-year-old brother was seriously injured. This morning, as many of our neighbors are sending up their Sunday prayers, we hope they will join us in sending up one for the family and loved ones of these boys as they grapple with their devastating loss.
Unfortunately, last night’s accident was one of several in recent weeks involving cars and pedestrians or cyclists. We implore motorists in our Districts and across the city to slow down and be extra careful to look out for your neighbors on foot or bicycles. Doing so can reduce the number of preventable and senseless accidents and help other families avoid this type of tragedy.
“This is just something that we have to do better with, with respect to looking out for one another and looking out for those that are crossing streets,” says Howard Harding, the executive director of the Reset Center. “They’re kids. They’re going to do what kids do. At the end of the day, we just want to come together and rise above all this and really just continue to be their resilient community I know we can be.”
Howard Harding leads the Reset Center located directly next to where the crash occurred.
Some community members have called for more streetlights throughout the community to improve pedestrian safety.
While there are street lights in this exact area and Lawrence PD noted they were on and working properly that night, some feel there could be more.
“There needs to be something that will allow greater visibility of people walking,” Harding said. “This is a very busy street and you see a lot of people crossing in the middle the street. They don’t wait until they get to the corner. Some of them cross right in the street and with better street lights, that would make a difference in the drivers’ ability to see the pedestrians.”
“There’s good lighting. The street lights were working properly that night,” Woodruff said. “There’s three street lights that light this area pretty well. It’s always one of those things where motorists, bicyclists and pedestrians really need to look out for each other.”
