Crossing guard struck near North Liberty’s Penn Elementary

NORTH LIBERTY - A school crossing guard was struck and injured by a vehicle Monday morning at N. Stewart and Penn streets in North Liberty.

North Liberty police were dispatched to the scene, about a half-mile from Penn Elementary School, at 8:04 a.m. The crossing guard was taken by ambulance to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, said Sgt. Tyson Landsgard.

No children were injured in the accident. Penn Elementary starts school at 8:45 a.m., and Principal Kristy Heffner said few students are typically at that crosswalk as early as 8:05 a.m. To her knowledge, only one student witnessed the accident.

A guidance counselor spoke with that student, and her parents were called. Heffner later notified all Penn parents of the accident by email.

Crossing guards are employed by the city of North Liberty and are not employees of the school district. According to Heffner's email to parents, another crossing guard will be at N. Stewart and Penn when school lets out Monday afternoon.

The driver of the vehicle was not injured, and the accident still is under investigation.

l Comments: (319) 398-8330; molly.duffy@thegazette.com