Parent cites two years of near-misses at East River High School crosswalk

East River High School operates in the early morning hours when visibility is limited for both pedestrians and motorists. On Oct. 20, Samantha Parrish contacted the school principal regarding safety conditions at a crosswalk near the campus entrance. Parrish, whose child has attended the school for two years, stated that drivers often cannot see students until the pedestrians are well into the roadway. She described the area as dark before sunrise, noting that while streetlights exist, the specific corner where most students begin their crossing lacks illumination. Parrish provided a photograph to illustrate the low-light conditions. She reported seeing multiple students nearly struck by vehicles because they were invisible to oncoming traffic until they were more than halfway across the street. The site currently features a 10 mph speed limit sign, a stop sign for pedestrians, and a yellow pedestrian crossing sign. Parrish argued that these static signs are insufficient if drivers cannot detect pedestrians in time. She requested the installation of a flashing beacon or another active warning indicator to alert drivers entering and leaving the school zone. Parrish also submitted a request through the Orange County 311 system. The request was referred to Duke Energy. Two days after filing, Parrish received an email stating the case was closed. She noted that no physical changes had been made to the crosswalk. Subsequently, the utility sent a follow-up email asking her to rate her experience. Parrish reported that she gave the interaction zero stars and noted that the situation remained unchanged. She has launched an online petition to increase pressure on county officials. Parrish plans to present her case at upcoming meetings of the Orange County Board of County Commissioners and the school board. She aims to secure the additional warning device she believes is necessary for student safety during the pre-dawn commute.

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