NEW PALESTINE—Safety improvements are coming to a crosswalk in New Palestine where a teenager was struck and seriously injured by a vehicle, earlier this month.
14-year-old Kian Heise was crossing busy U.S. 52 to get to the high school campus when he was hit. There are caution signs on the road warning drivers that a crosswalk is ahead—signs that are often ignored.
Now, the Hancock County town and the state are working together to install flashing lights at the crossing. The project should be completed soon, according to Indiana Department of Transportation spokesperson Mallory Duncan.
U.S. 52 is also Main Street in New Palestine, which puts it under INDOT jurisdiction. A representative from the department was on hand at a recent New Palestine Town Council meeting where some residents expressed concern about the crossing, following the accident that injured Heise.
It turns out, according to Duncan, that safety improvements were already being planned. The flashing caution lights will come first. The possibility of crossing guards has also been discussed.
