Germantown Teen Dies In Accident While Walking To School

As Montgomery County police continue to investigate the death 15-year-old Christina Morris Ward, who was struck and killed by a car while crossing Route 118 in Germantown Wednesday morning, more attention is being focused on the habits of children who walk to school, and the intersection where Ward was struck and killed.

Germantown Road, also known as Route 118 is busy. The speed limit approaching the Town Center in Germantown is 40 mph. The intersection of Germantown and Wisteria Drive is controlled by a traffic light. The driver of the car, 27-year-old Kevin Bradley Carlson, had a green light at the time of the accident.

"I was just talking with her," says Sara Adelziz, a freshman at Seneca Valley. "I'm shocked, I can't believe she's gone ."

Adelziz, who recently walked across the same intersection, says it's not uncommon for students to cross the street against the light.

"People do a lot of jaywalking here, but it's very busy," she says. "I was caught jaywalking once and a cop told me not to do it 'cause I was this close to getting hit by a car, too."

According to records, about one-third of Montgomery County's 149,000 students walk to school.

Andre Washington's daughter is a freshman at Seneca Valley, and he says too much can happen walking to school.

"I drive her to school every day, just for that reason," he says. "One minute of not paying attention on the students' part, one minute of not paying attention on the driver's part, or a combination of the two, and next thing you know, it's an accident."

The driver has not been cited. Police are continuing to investigate the incident.