SEATTLE — Starting Monday, barricades will be put on a portion of 20th Place S in Seattle’s Central District to prevent cars from parking.
This comes after 12-year-old Arsema Barekew was killed by a rolling car outside Washington Middle School in early March.
A parent allegedly parked an SUV in a no-parking zone on 20th Place S and left it. Eyewitnesses say the unattended vehicle rolled down the street and hit Arsema on the sidewalk, killing her instantly.
“I brought my daughter here [from Ethiopia] to have a better life, to go to a better school, to get a better education and then I send my child to school and don’t get my child back,” Arsema’s mother, Tigist Yitna, told KIRO 7 in March.
To prevent something like this from happening in the future, barricades will be placed along that ‘No Parking Zone.’
Buses, bikers and walkers can still get through, but cars will not be able to access 20th Pl. S, even during drop-off and pickup hours.
The school also implemented a new rule saying students can no longer walk outside of the school to get to the gym.
The driver of the SUV that rolled has not been charged.
In a statement to parents, Washington Middle School principal Adrian Manriquez said:
“In partnership with the Seattle Department of Transportation and Seattle Public Schools, we’re converting 20th Pl S to a “School Street” that is CLOSED to through traffic from 7 AM – 7 PM beginning Monday, May 19th.
20th Pl S becoming a “School Street” means that it will only be open for school buses, district provided rideshare or ADA vehicles, local deliveries and people walking or biking. It is closed to through traffic such as parent/caregivers personal vehicles.
Please drop off or pick up students in the surrounding area or in the parking lot. You may also park in the neighborhood or in the parking lot when walking up to the main office to pick up your child for early dismissal or dropping off for a late arrival.
As always, use heavy caution in the parking lot as it can become congested with scholars. Additionally, always follow traffic laws and be cautious in the neighborhood as well.
To support this effort, we will have volunteers on select days during arrival and pick-up next week to remind cars not to drive up 20th Pl S. Please treat them with respect and kindness as they take this task on.
Please contact HealthyStreets@seattle.gov for resources to support walking, biking, and taking the school bus or public transit to school!"