Rock Hill child walking home from school hit by truck

By Christy Mullins - The Herald

School officials were reminded Wednesday of the need for safer roads when a 12-year-old boy was hit by a truck while walking home from class.

Police say the Sullivan Middle School student didn't use a marked crosswalk when he crossed Mount Gallant near Cherry Road. They listed him as the sole contributor to the accident.

He stepped into the street and was hit by the truck traveling south on Mount Gallant, Rock Hill Police Lt. Brad Redfearn said.

The child was transported by EMS to Carolinas Medical Center in Charlotte, where he was listed in good condition Thursday. The driver was not injured, according to the accident report.

Roughly 200 students walk to and from Sullivan Middle School each day, said principal Michael Waiksnis. The building is sandwiched between major thoroughfares Cherry Road and Eden Terrace, and district officials decided in June that sidewalks are needed on Mount Gallant Road between Celanese and Anderson roads.

Parents spoke out in May when a seventh-grader walking home from Saluda Trail Middle School was hit by an SUV. They had complained for years about the busy stretch of S.C. 72 that runs in front of the school. Another look at the heavy traffic by public officials prompted a sidewalk, crosswalk and crossing guards at the school.

Waiksnis said Sullivan's School Improvement Council has made safety a priority this year, adding two teachers to the intersection of Cherry and Ebinport roads to act as crossing guards for students who walk home.

The state Department of Transportation also has added extra signage in recent months at the improvement council's request, he said.

Work is expected to begin in March to widen Mount Gallant Road from two to three lanes between Celanese and Anderson roads. New sidewalks will be added to both sides.

County officials expect the Mount Gallant widening to be complete by late next year.

Waiksnis said the site of Wednesday's accident, near Farris Drive where the student lives, is not a heavily-traveled path for students.