CYPRESS, Texas – A Cy-Fair ISD middle school student was hit by a pickup truck while biking to school on Wednesday.
The school district announced earlier this year that middle or high school students who live less than two miles from campus, or one mile for elementary students, must find their own way to school.
It’s a move district leaders made to save money.
“We are aware of yesterday’s auto-pedestrian accident involving a student riding a bicycle at the intersection of Rustic Lakes Lane and Raven Rock Lane. The Harris County Sheriff’s Office is investigating the incident. The student sustained minor injuries and was transported to a local hospital as a precautionary measure. Student safety is of utmost importance to us. As a reminder to the community, drivers must remain vigilant and stay off cell phones. If we all work together, we can ensure our students get to and from school safely each day,” the district said in a statement to KPRC 2.
Jordin Brooks, 12, lives just on the edge of that two-mile radius.
On Wednesday, she and her sister were biking to Hopper Middle School in Cypress when Brooks was hit by a pickup truck.
“My sister went, because the car was still going to the stop sign‚” Brooks told KPRC 2’s Gage Goulding. “I was waiting and looking both ways and then the car didn’t make no move so I went and then that’s when the car made a move.“
The driver of the pickup truck hit the gas pedal, running over Brooks, dragging her bike and the young girl under the truck.
There’s a large white scar on the pavement where Jordan was dragged, screaming for her sister to help.
“It shouldn’t take for death to happen, for them to open their eyes and realize, ‘Hey, we need bus transportation,’” said Jordin’s mother, Sherlaunda Hall.
The mom moved her family to the Cypress area last fall. This district and not having busing is all new to her.
Sherlaunda Hall: “I should not regret putting my kids CyFair. I regret it every day.”
Gage Goulding: “Do you feel like the school board, do you think, do you feel like CyFair is putting your kids in harm’s way?”
Sherlaunda Hall: “Yes, they are.”
The reality is that many families can’t afford private transportation. Some parents need to head to work early in the morning and stay after school is let out.
That means hundreds of kids need to find their own way to and from school.
“Thank God. I really thank God my daughter was here to hear a sister calling her to help because no one knew she was under the car,” Hall said.
She’s a mother who realizes how luck her daughter truly is.
However, not every story will have an ending like this.
“I’m speaking for every mother, every parent, now is the time for CyFair to get bus transportation,” she said.
KPRC 2 asked Cy-Fair ISD for information on the number of students injured while walking or biking to school as well as alternative transportation methods. The district has yet to answer our questions.
