Officials keeping eye on Route 228 intersection where Mars student was hit
Officials at Mars Area School District and the state Department of Transportation District 10 are working together to ensure students are safe at an intersection where a teenage student was recently struck by a vehicle.
“We want to make sure everything is going to be as safe as possible for our buildings and our students,” said John Kennedy, school board president.
Paige Lauten, 13, was struck by a vehicle at about 5:30 p.m. Nov. 29 while attempting to cross Route 228 from Mars Area Middle School, according to Adams Township police.
Paige, an eighth-grade student at Mars Area Middle School, walked in front of the vehicle, police said.
She was taken to UPMC Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh with serious injuries.
Kennedy said as a result of the accident, school board members, district administrators and township police met with PennDOT District 10 officials to discuss the intersection.
He said the intersection is slated for an upgrade in an upcoming PennDOT widening project that is to be completed by 2025.
“We want to try to understand what the whole situation is going to look like in the future,” Kennedy said. “We want to see what the safety features are going to be at the intersection, not just for the school properties, but the traffic pattern.”
He said PennDOT officials estimate the traffic pattern at the intersection will change six times during the widening project, so communication between all stakeholders is imperative.
“If we have good communication between (the school district) and PennDOT, it’s just going to lessen incidents,” Kennedy said.
Kennedy said everyone at the school district is very upset about Paige’s accident.
“The whole community is praying for her,” Kennedy said. “We just ask that people keep her in their thoughts.”
Christina Gibbs, PennDOT District 10 spokesperson, confirmed that District 10 officials met Tuesday with the school district and other partners in the community.
“We discussed how we as a community can work together in the best interest of safety for motorists and pedestrians in the vicinity of Mars Area School District,” Gibbs said via email. “There are a variety of follow-ups and future plans we will be working together on.”
She said as construction in the vicinity of the schools continues moving forward, so will enhancements and improvements designed for both motorist and pedestrian safety.
“Education is key, and we will be working with the school district to increase awareness of existing and future safety features and promote driver and pedestrian safety,” Gibbs said.
An update on Paige’s condition was unavailable Wednesday. However, a post on the “Prayers for Paige L” Facebook page by Paige’s parents, Burt and Amy Lauten, thanked the medical staff at UPMC Children’s Hospital for their “pure, genuine care” of Paige.
The couple also thanked everyone in the community who reached out with thoughts, prayers and words of encouragement for Paige.
“Even if we aren’t able to respond to everyone at this time, please know the families read every message and appreciate all of the love directed to Paige,” the post said.
They asked that prayers continue for the youngster.
The “Prayers for Paige L” Facebook page had more than 4,200 followers as of Wednesday afternoon.
Eagle correspondent Logan Carney contributed to this report.
