10-year-old girl is hit by a car while leaving school in Aurora and urges drivers to be alert
AURORA, Colorado – A 10-year-old girl is urging drivers to be extra vigilant after she was hit by a car on her way home from school.
Aurora police responded to the intersection of S. Telluride and E. Dartmouth around 3 p.m. Friday for a report of an accident. Emma Sherburne, 10, was riding her scooter home from Dalton Elementary School when she was struck by a car.
According to police, the driver said she was looking in the opposite direction when she began to accelerate at the stop sign and collided with Emma, who was standing in the crosswalk. The 29-year-old driver from Aurora was charged with reckless driving resulting in injury and no proof of insurance.
Emma, an energetic fifth-grader, is covered in bruises on one side of her body. Her injuries were not considered serious, but they shocked her and her family nonetheless.
“All I remember is that I was lying on the ground,” Emma said. “Watch where you’re going and be careful… That was almost a murder weapon.”
Nicole Cook rushed to her daughter, who was quickly taken to the hospital. The family is sharing their story to remind drivers to be alert on the roads, especially near schools.
“The outcome could be worse,” Cook said. “They need to be able to get to school and back home safely.”
When school started in early August, Aurora PD spread a message on social media calls on drivers to be more careful in and around school zones.
Classes have started! 🏫
Our traffic section reminds families and children to stop, look and listen on the way to and from school.
We also remind drivers to be aware of their surroundings, obey traffic laws and pay attention to signs indicating school zones. … pic.twitter.com/CJQMsh1VOv
— Aurora Police Department (@AuroraPD) 7 August 2024
In a statement, Aurora Public Schools urged all drivers to “slow down, obey traffic laws and watch for children when traveling near a school.”
Full explanation:
It is with great sadness that we learned of an accident involving one of our students at Dalton Elementary School that occurred off school property after school on Friday. We are thankful that our student is recovering and back in school. Since last week, we have been working with the family to provide support. We regularly communicate with our community about the importance of safety in school zones. We ask all drivers to slow down, obey traffic laws, and watch for children when traveling in residential areas near a school. The safety of our students and staff is our top priority.
Cook said Dalton Elementary School staff has been very helpful. The school is working to get a school crossing guard assigned to the intersection where the accident occurred.
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