LAS VEGAS (FOX5) — A local volunteer organization is calling for more help keeping Clark County students safe walking to and from school, as the district prepares for the Aug. 10 start of the school year.
Walk Safely LV was founded by Krista Holloway after Arbor View High School student McKenzie Scott died crossing the street near her school. Scott was 18 years old.
Her death fueled ongoing calls for safety improvements around the school and other campuses.
Police said the driver, identified as 37-year-old Keenan Jackson, was under the influence. Jackson was later sentenced to eight to 20 years in prison.
Holloway said she heard the sirens pass her house that day and later turned her home into the group’s headquarters.
She and a few other members of the group stood by students as they walked to and from school after Scott’s death.
“It was terrifying. It was literally terrifying the first day I walked out there. I would rather me be hit by a car than a student get hit by a car — that’s the risk I took and I will continue to do it,” Holloway said.
Record number of students struck by cars
According to Clark County School District Police Department data, 432 students were struck by cars on their way to or from school during the last school year — a record for the district. Four of those students died. So far this summer, 35 students have been hit.
One of the students killed was 12-year-old Cristofer Suarez. He was struck on Oct. 3 at Owens and 21st Street while walking to school for an early mariachi practice.
Oh’Ryan Brooks, the driver who struck him, pleaded guilty to multiple charges, including DUI, and was sentenced to seven to 17 years in prison.
“It took us losing McKenzie for people to slow down and start paying attention, and then of course what happened to Cristofer sparked it a little bit more,” Holloway said.
Accomplishments and upcoming need
In the past year, Walk Safely LV earned a proclamation from the City of Las Vegas and pushed for changes at Arbor View High School, including pedestrian light flashers, new signs and repainted crosswalks. The city also launched a crossing guard pilot program at some high schools, including Arbor View.
Holloway said she needs volunteers beyond parents to expand the group’s reach. She is encouraging schools to form their own chapters.
“What we would like to happen — if you need help at your school, reach out to us, get on your social media pages and ask your parents at your school to come out and help volunteer, and we will facilitate and help walk you through it, and you will become your own chapter of Walk Safely LV,” Holloway said.
With high school start times shifting to 8:30 a.m., Holloway said she expects more students to be on sidewalks, making the need for volunteers more urgent ahead of the Aug. 10 first day of school.
Her son, Aiden Esposito, will be a senior at Arbor View this year.
“I am really grateful we had that crossing guard last year. It made me feel better and less anxious about crossing the street, and I hope it stays,” Esposito said.
Holloway plans to be at the school on the first day of classes, handing out flyers to parents.
“Give it to your kids, your new drivers, your friends,” she said.
The City of Las Vegas said it will release data from the crossing guard pilot program next week, which may determine which high schools will have crossing guards for the new school year.
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