Student hit by car outside Kearns Jr. High dies, police say

KEARNS — A child was hit by a car crossing the street towards a school Thursday morning in Kearns. Police said the child was critically injured and was rushed to the hospital.

The Unified Police Department later confirmed that the boy had succumbed to his injuries. Police identified the boy as 12-year-old Adam Mahmet, and said he was a student at Kearns Junior High School.

Andrea Stringham with the Granite School District said the student was taken to the hospital with injuries, but it was not immediately clear what injuries the child had.

The Unified Police Department said all lanes of traffic were closed at 4140 West Sam’s Boulevard.

 

Sgt. Aymee Race with the Unified Police Department said the student was hit by a Chevy Tahoe at approximately 7:45 a.m. while on a bike. Police said the child was crossing towards Kearns Jr. High across the street. There were a lot of children around at the time, and at least one other child in the crosswalk, but no crossing guard when it happened.

Police encouraged everyone to look both ways before you cross the street and for drivers to pay more attention.

“Drivers need to be very cognizant when they’re approaching these crosswalks especially during school hours when students are coming to and from school, and just slow down,” Race said.

There were a number of things police weren’t ready to release Thursday morning, including the extent of the child’s injuries, or what the driver was telling officers about how it happened, but the driver did stay on scene and was cooperating with police.

The Granite School District is working with their own crisis team to help students affected by the accident. Police anticipate they’ll share more information later Thursday afternoon.

“The incident remains under investigation, and authorities urge drivers and pedestrians to exercise caution, particularly near school zones and crosswalks,” the Unified Police Department said.

The Granite School District said their crisis response team was already at Kearns Junior High Thursday, and said they would continue to be in the school through Friday. The team would also work with students’ families “for any additional ongoing support or resources that may be needed,” the district said.

“This school is heartbroken. Kearns Jr High is an incredibly close knit community and this accident has had far reaching effects,” the Granite School District said.

In a media release, the district also said it doesn’t hire personnel to staff crosswalks, as that duty falls to law enforcement and municipalities, but said it would “continue to collaborate with (its) city and law enforcement partners to work to provide safe walking routes.”