Crossing guard dies weeks after being struck by car

NORTH LIBERTY - A 69-year-old school crossing guard who was hit by a car March 21 has died following complications from her injuries.

Paula Main helped Penn Elementary students safely cross North Stewart and Penn streets, about a half-mile from the elementary school, 230 N. Dubuque St.

She died on May 5.

Main was a North Liberty crossing guard for four years and previously worked as a crossing guard in Solon, said North Liberty City Administrator Ryan Heiar.

'She knew these kids who were crossing the streets,” Heiar said. 'She was just a good person and did such a nice job. It's truly unfortunate what happened.”

The intersection of North Stewart and Penn is a two-way stop. One Penn parent said she hopes the incident leads to more safety precautions in the area, such as warning lights or speed bumps.

'Every school has those flashing yellow lights,” said Ashley Ballard, who lives near the school. 'This crosswalk, there's nothing.”

Heiar said while there are no immediate plans to change the intersection, a citywide study could bring additional safety precautions to areas that see high student traffic.

The study began earlier this school year in response to the Iowa City school district's decision to discontinue some discretionary bus routes, Heiar said. Through the money saving move, he anticipates an increase to the number of North Liberty students who walk to school of about 400.

'We're taking a comprehensive look as we receive this information from the school district to make sure there are safe walking routes to the schools,” Heiar said.

The public can submit ideas to the traffic safety task force online at northlibertyiowa.org.

On the day of the collision, North Liberty police reported Main was taken to the hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.

North Liberty Police Chief Diane Venenga told The Gazette on Tuesday that no charges would be filed in the collision, citing witness reports.

'She was attempting to cross the street but was not in the crosswalk,” Venenga said. 'She took one step into the street when she was struck.”

The Monday morning collision occurred shortly after 8 a.m., about 40 minutes before school started. No children were injured.

Principal Kristy Heffner said Main was a well-known figure in the Penn community. Even students who didn't walk through her crosswalk, Heffner said, would wave to Main from cars or school buses.

'We really appreciate her service, and I know she just wanted kids to be safe and to take good care of them,” Heffner said. 'And she did.”

Funeral services for Main took place Tuesday, May 10, at Silver Creek United Methodist Church in Delaware County.

Reporter Lee Hermiston contributed to this story.