NORTHAMPTON — A 15-year-old boy is recovering from a broken leg after being struck by a vehicle while in a crosswalk outside of Northampton High School Monday evening.
The accident is the latest in a number of traffic-related incidents that have occurred in that area.
Monday’s accident occurred at 5 p.m. when the driver, an 18-year-old from Easthampton, was checking his rearview mirror, believing the driver behind him was tailgating, according to Northampton Police Capt. Victor Caputo.
When the driver struck the boy, the car behind him subsequently rear-ended the driver’s vehicle.
The boy suffered a broken femur as a result from the accident.
Two other accidents have occurred in the same area in the last year. In October 2021, musician Charlie Braun was killed while riding his bicycle, and earlier this year, a crossing guard was hit in the crosswalk.
The Northampton Police Department, Department of Public Works, and the mayor’s office have been in discussions with how to possibly improve the safety of the area, with proposed extra lighting as one potential solution.
