On Thursday, April 30, our community experienced a tragedy that should have never happened.

Katy Wells, a beloved crossing guard who dedicated over 40 years of her life to protecting children, was struck and killed while helping students safely cross the road in front of Gray’s Creek Elementary. She was doing exactly what she had done for decades—standing between traffic and our children, making sure they made it home safely.

She wasn’t just a crossing guard. She was a protector, a familiar face, and a symbol of safety for families every single school day. Her loss has left a hole in this community that cannot be filled.

But the truth is—this tragedy was not an isolated incident. And it was preventable.

Just two weeks before this devastating loss, there was already a close call at the same location. A local parent walking her children to Gray’s Creek Elementary was forced to yank them back from the road when a driver—who wasn’t paying attention—failed to stop, despite a school bus actively holding traffic with flashing lights and its stop sign extended.

This is not a “what if” situation.
This is not a rare occurrence.
This is a pattern.

The current speed limit near Gray’s Creek Elementary is 45 miles per hour—far too fast for an area where children are walking, parents are dropping off students, and crossing guards are actively directing traffic.

At 45 mph, a driver has drastically less time to react. One mistake. One moment of distraction. And the consequences are irreversible.

We have already seen a near-miss.

Now, we have lost a life.

We cannot wait for another tragedy.

We are calling on local officials to take immediate action:

1. Lower the speed limit in the school zone to at least 25 mph

        2. Install clearer signage and flashing school zone indicators

        3. Increase enforcement during school hours
       

        4. Evaluate additional safety measures such as crosswalk improvements and traffic calming devices

Every child deserves to walk into school safely. Every parent deserves peace of mind. And every crossing guard deserves to go home at the end of the day.

Katy Wells gave her life protecting our children. Other parent’s experience shows just how close we were to another devastating outcome.

How many warnings do we need before something changes?

Sign this petition to demand safer roads, lower speeds, and real action—before another life is taken.