Location of Auto-Ped Crash Labeled Hazardous by La Joya ISD
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LA JOYA – The area where the nine-year-old child was struck by a car Wednesday morning as she boarded her school bus has previously been identified as hazardous by the school district.
The child was near the La Homa Road and Mile 8 intersection.
She was getting ready to board the bus to travel just a few blocks to Emiliano Zapata Elementary School, part of La Joya Independent School District.
That area was labeled hazardous by the district in the 2016/2017 school year.
It's part of a list compiled that identifies hazardous areas within a two-mile walking zone.
It also lists six other campuses similarly near dangerous areas along La Homa Road including: Diaz-Villarreal Elementary, E.B. Reyna Elementary, Emiliano-Zapata Elementary, Kika de la Garza Elementary, Lloyd M. Bentsen Elementary and Palmview High School.
La Homa Road is a state road, so it is a heavily travelled area.
There were no crosswalks or even sidewalks in the area where the child was struck.
School districts have to identify areas they consider hazardous when they request transportation funding for those regions from the state.
La Joya ISD received $2,140,852 as part of their Hazardous Transportation Funding for the 2016/2017 school year.
The distinction of "hazardous area" is determined by the school district working to meet a definition established by a state statute.
According to Texas Transportation code 42.155, "a hazardous traffic condition exists where no walkway is provided and children must walk along or cross a freeway or expressway, an underpass, an overpass or a bridge, an uncontrolled major traffic artery, an industrial or commercial area, or another comparable condition."
In La Joya ISD, we know of 34 areas considered dangerous for crossing.
These areas are within a two-mile walk zone.
The list was obtained from a public information request submitted by CHANNEL FIVE NEWS in 2018.
KRGV's Valerie Gonzalez has requested current information through a new request.
Every school district must submit a similar report if they are requesting funding.
Parents who want to know if their child's school district identified any hazardous routes can request the information from the district's administration office.
For more information watch the video above.
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