Parent recounts car strike near Meadowlawn school; mayor and staff pledge follow-up on traffic safety

A Kentwood resident told the City Commission on April 1 that he and his son were struck by a vehicle while using a crosswalk near Fuller and Slider, prompting questions about traffic safety at the Meadowlawn school crossing.

Justin Anderson said he and his son were walking the school route when ‘‘she just turned left into us. I moved forward to try to stop her. It seemingly seemed like she didn't see me, kept pushing me back and hit my older son next to me. And I was quick enough to grab him and put us both on her hood as she continued to go through us." He said his son suffered bruising; both later went to the emergency room and did not have broken bones.

Commissioners and the mayor said the incident had been investigated. Mayor Kepley said he had spoken with the school principal and the police chief and that school staff had reached out to the family the day of the accident. Kepley said the intersection is controlled by a yield sign rather than a stop sign and acknowledged the downhill blind curve into Slider that contributes to risk.

The mayor said the city has previously sent officers to manage traffic during pick-up and drop-off and that the school has implemented training for adults who help at crossings. He said staff would follow up and invited Anderson to provide contact information to discuss additional safety measures, including signage, speed enforcement, speed bumps or other traffic-calming options.

No formal order or policy was adopted at the meeting; commissioners asked staff to continue investigation and coordination with the school and police to develop potential fixes and community notifications.