Driver Hits Teen Near Mentor High, Student Dragged Under Vehicle
- D Heckman
- 1 hour ago
- 2 min read
MENTOR, Ohio — A 16-year-old female student was struck and dragged by a pickup truck near Mentor High School early Wednesday morning, prompting renewed concerns from residents about the safety of students crossing near the busy intersection during school hours.
At approximately 6:22 a.m., a 54-year-old man operating a 2018 Chevrolet Silverado turned south onto Center Street from Fairfax Avenue and hit the teen, who was crossing northbound on foot. She was dragged several feet and found trapped beneath the truck when police and fire personnel arrived. Authorities reported the student was conscious and alert at the scene before being transported to Lake West Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The driver remained on site and is cooperating with investigators. The crash remains under investigation.
In the hours following the incident, community members voiced strong concerns online, pointing to the heavy foot traffic in the area and a long-standing frustration over insufficient pedestrian protections. Several residents emphasized that students have repeatedly been placed at risk during their commute to school and called for changes to road infrastructure or crossing enforcement. One local resident said, “We’ve been talking about student safety in that area for years.”
The incident also reignited conversations around broader student safety issues in Mentor, where parents have previously expressed concerns about the district’s response to bullying and the overall well-being of students. While Wednesday’s crash is being treated as an accident, many in the community argue that more proactive measures are necessary to protect children commuting on foot near school campuses.
Mentor officials have not released further updates. Classes at Mentor High School continued as scheduled.
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