A boy has been hit by a car outside a Gold Coast school as parents ramp up calls for more road safety

THE State Government and council have vowed to fix a dangerous intersection at one of the Gold Coast’s largest schools after a boy was run over by a car.

THE State Government and council have vowed to fix a dangerous intersection at one of the Gold Coast’s largest schools after a boy was run over by a car, breaking two bones.

Mother Bex Haydon said she was waiting at her car when she spotted her 12-year-old son Riley walking out on to Dixon Drive after a day at Pimpama State College Primary.

In a split second he was underneath a passing ute.

“As he fell his head went beneath the car,” she said. “Then the car lifted and I thought it had driven over his head.

12-year-old Riley Haydon broke two bones in his leg when a car ran over him on Tuesday outside of Pimpama State Primary College.

This morning, concerned parents met out the front of Pimpama Primary to confront Transport Minister Mark Bailey on the lack of safe crossings and pick up issues.

Mother Cassie Ward, who witnessed the incident which left a 12 year old with a broken leg, said a lack of crossings needed to be addressed now.

“We can’t afford to wait any more, there is no room for parents to pick up, in the afternoon dangerous, this should have happened five years ago,” she said.

Transport Minister Mark Bailey and TMR staff survey the road surrounding Pimpama State College Primary with Principal Donna Gosling and parent Doug Kirby

Tenille Cotter, who had also seen a child knocked off his bike by a car earlier this month, said she was pleased the minister was viewing the site of the problem.

“Finally but it took the front page of the paper to do it,” Ms Cotter said.

“It’s just ridiculous. It’s paint on a road. I’m screaming for double lines on the road to stop people.

“That’s what I was hoping, that someone would just listen.

Acting Mayor Donna Gates said council has this morning been notified of State Government approval for a crossing at Pimpama Primary School, and have already actioned the work.

Cr Gates said the instillation work will ideally take place over the school holidays but it was up to the State government to ensure the funding and attendant would be there.

“In all papers on the matter there has been a compelling case for a crossing, today I received a call from the minister to action the works,” Cr Gates said.

“We are still waiting on formal advice but have begun the process to ensure the installation can happen over the holidays,” she said.

Other traffic concerns near the high school will also be addressed said Cr Gates.

“The council is already working on kerb side, yellow lines and pedestrian islands, ” she said.

Principal Donna Gosling who has been part of the school safety committee said the group will continue to watch and for results.

“ The increasing pressures of the roads and footpaths in the area has always been a concern parents have raised and it is something we have worked collaboratively,” Principal Donna Gosling said.

“The committee has been around for years pushing for changes and will continue to”

The principal said she was horrified but not surprised by the incident which left a 12 -year-old student with a broken leg.

“We were really saddened to hear of what’s happened for Riley but really fantastic to come to hopefully very soon a resolution around safe passage,” she said.

Travelling at 10km/h the Toyota Hilux ran over Riley’s lower leg breaking his tibia and fibula.

It is understood to be the third incident of its kind this year outside the primary and secondary colleges. Queensland Ambulance Service confirmed an incident in March.

NUMINBAH VALLEY SCHOOL BEGS FOR LIGHTS AND SIGNAGE

Angry parents in the fast-growing community have been fighting for months for pedestrian crossings around two adjacent schools.

Politicians tried to give the Bulletin the run around yesterday, before the newspaper discovered Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk was warned of the dangers months ago.

Riley Haydon, 12, has two broken bones in his leg after he was run over by a Toyota Hilux on Tuesday as he left Pimpama State Primary College. He is now in Gold Coast University Hospital. Photo by Richard Gosling

She forwarded the concerns at the time to her Transport Minister.

After seeking comment late last night, Premier Palaszczuk said she “acted to ensure the most appropriate Minister was aware that the matter needed urgent investigation. Expert advice from both council and state government agencies is always considered.

“Safer roads remain a focus of the Queensland Government and all road users are encouraged to exercise appropriate caution and care on and near our roads.”

PIMPAMA THIRD FASTEST GROWING SUBURB

Ms Haydon said Riley would not have been injured if crossings were in place.

The letter sent to Mr Doug Kirby on the issue of crossings at Pimpama Schools.

Despite the combined student population of 2405 at Pimpama primary and secondary colleges, which are 500 metres apart, there is not one zebra crossing, “lolly-pop” attendant or underpass/overpass.

Riley’s father, Darren Haydon, said a child was bound to get hit by a car because there were no pedestrian crossings between the two schools.

“There are kids going everywhere, whichever is the quickest path for them to get home,” he said. “It is like ants fleeing the nest.”

Father of two Pimpama students, Doug Kirby has written to the Premier, Department of

Riley Haydon’s broken leg. Picture: supplied

12-year-old Riley Haydon in hospital. Picture: supplied

Transport and Main Roads, and had spoken with his local and state member about installing pedestrian crossings.

“I’m not taking it lying down. Every letter I have been given is basically just a ‘shut up and here is something to tide you over’,” he said.

In a response to Mr Kirby on April 10, the Premier said a meeting about road safety around the schools took place in March and the Department of Transport and Main Roads would conduct a risk assessment.

In a letter from the Department of Transport and Main Roads dated May 8, Mr Kirby was informed the roads were a council responsibility.

Riley Haydon recovering in hospital. Photo by Richard Gosling

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Yesterday morning, the safety of the children was in that bureaucratic no-man’s land.

The Bulletin was first told by the department “your inquiry … will need to be directed to the City of Gold Coast”.

Acting Mayor Donna Gates said “the Department of Transport and Main Roads (TMR) was responsible for identifying the need for children’s crossings at schools and have recently undertaken an audit in Pimpama.”

The Department of Transport and Main Roads did not respond to The Gold Coast Bulletin’s questions yesterday.