by Michael Robinson | Uvalde Hesperian
(Top Picture is of a Knippa ISD school crossing guard published previously by the Uvalde Hesperian)
On Tuesday, February 20th, a Uvalde CISD crossing guard was struck by a vehicle during that morning’s drop off time.
According to Uvalde Chief of Police Daniel Rodriguez, the Texas Department of Public Safety is the lead agency investigating the incident.
News4SA reported the following on the incident: “According to the Department of Public Safety (DPS), the incident happened around 8:00 a.m. Tuesday near the 900 block of Getty Street just outside of Flores Elementary School. The school district said U.S. Border Patrol agent Juan Francisco Perez, 43, of Uvalde hit a crossing guard after he made an illegal left turn. The crossing guard attempted to redirect the driver and Perez struck him with the pickup.”
“Officials proceeded to pull over the driver and arrested Juan Francisco Perez for Driving While Intoxicated with an open container and Failure to Stop and Render Aid. Authorities were also able to find out that Perez was a Texas Customs and Border Patrol Agent,” the News4SA report said.
Superintendent Ashley Chohlis issued the following statement later that day about the incident:
“Tuesday, February 20, 2024
Dear Uvalde CISD Parents and Faculty,
In an effort to keep the community informed with accurate information, I regret to notify you of a pedestrian accident this morning (Tuesday, February 20th) involving Uvalde
CISD’s Crossing Guard, Mr. Juarez, at the Studer Street and Getty Street crosswalk. During the morning drop off time, a vehicle hit Mr. Juarez while he was on duty. I want to
extend my gratitude to the school administration for their quick response and especially to our nurse who provided immediate medical attention until EMS arrived to assess Mr.
Juarez’s condition.
Mr. Juarez was responsive during the on-site medical screening and was transferred to Uvalde Memorial Hospital for further evaluation. The driver involved in the accident was
detained by DPS. This incident is a stark reminder of the critical need for attentive, cautious driving, especially in areas frequented by pedestrians, such as school
campuses. Your vigilance and attention while driving can help prevent such unfortunate accidents in the future.
Please keep Mr. Juarez in your thoughts, and let’s all work together to prioritize safety on and around our school premises. Thank you for your understanding and support.
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