Car strikes dirt bike, injuring student near Kennedy Middle School
A student riding a dirt bike was struck by a car Thursday afternoon near Kennedy Middle School during dismissal time, prompting a large emergency response, officials and witnesses said.
The crash happened about 2:30 p.m. near Lexington Street and College Farm Road as students were leaving school, according to Waltham police. An off-duty Waltham Police officer who was nearby arrived quickly and began providing first aid with help from school administrators and teachers until emergency crews reached the scene.
Waltham police and fire personnel and Armstrong Ambulance responded. Witnesses said several bystanders also stopped to help and stayed with the injured student. One person said her cousin held the student’s hand until his mother arrived. Another described Lexington Street as “very busy” at the time and commended the quick response from police and school staff.
The student was conscious and alert after the crash and was taken to a hospital in Boston with injuries, witnesses said. Photos from the scene showed a damaged Toyota sedan and a dirt bike lying in the roadway as officers investigated.
Police said the crash remains under investigation.
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It’s interesting to see so many police officers on the site… they’re never around when you need them and suddenly they are all out at once. We have been calling the Waltham PD about dirt and mini bike riders tearing around the neighborhood for the best part of a year. All summer and weekends, we’ve seen numerous kids riding around, not following the rules of the road, flipping of drivers, swerving on and off pavement and roads, not signaling, using their phones, giving friends rides without helmets…
We were told there was nothing they could do, unless they caught them in the act and that they’d send a patrol car out (which they never did, or it was too late). Others posted about it in FB and Reddit groups, asking if they knew the families and to have a word with their kids. Replies told the original posters to “let kids be kids” and to let them have their fun. Well… I hate to say it… I told you so everyone. I’d like to think this accident would give parents and teens riding those bikes a wake up call… but I doubt it very much. We’ll see when the weather warms up I suppose.
It is unfortunate but Lexington Street between Lake Street and Totten Pond road has become a haven for cars over the speed limit. Especially once you get past Jacks Way it is not uncommon for cars and truck traveling 40-45mph. There is careless behavior by students on the motor bikes, but a school zone is not posted past Jacks Way. Two schools of students are subject to a lack of safety. Let’s not forget about the multiple accidents around the Curve Street area as this has become a major cut thru. The storm damage has taken down a few signs on both sides. it might be time for our councilors and the mayors office to look into this. A solution is needed to vastly improve public safety and quality of life for residents.