WESTFIELD, Ind. (WRTV) — A boy died early Wednesday after being struck by a vehicle Tuesday evening near a Westfield school.
WATCH FULL STORY BELOW
The Westfield Police Department says the crash happened around 6 p.m. Tuesday at the intersection of 196th Street and Tomlinson Road. That’s near the Westfield Washington Schools Administrative Office and Monon Trail Elementary School.
Officers found the child with life-threatening injuries. An ambulance took the 7-year-old to Peyton Manning Children’s Hospital in Indianapolis in critical condition.
The child, who has not been identified, died shortly after 5 a.m. Wednesday.
Police say the driver stayed on scene. It’s unclear what led to the crash, but investigators do not think the driver was impaired.
WRTV spoke to Emily Ralph, whose children went to the same elementary school as the child who died. Ralph suggested better safety measures. “It’s devastating. This is literally a parent’s worst nightmare. If it's speed bumps, if it’s a light, if it’s a crosswalk. Whatever needs to happen. We have kids that need to be safe.”
Monon Trail Elementary School is down the street from the intersection, and some parents said children cross this intersection all the time to get to school.
The Westfield city government said a formal request for a crosswalk was submitted in October, but the city declined the request.
A statement from the city government said it is unable to install a crosswalk without “appropriate pedestrian facilities,” and the other side of the road belongs to Hamilton County government, and that’s why Westfield cannot install a sidewalk and a crosswalk.
Now, the city tells WRTV they are reviewing the circumstances of the crash, saying, "the incident will certainly be part of our ongoing review of pedestrian safety along the corridor," in a statement.
FULL STATEMENT FROM THE CITY OF WESTFIELD BELOW:
The City of Westfield extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, classmates, and all those affected by yesterday's tragic loss of a young child on Tomlinson Road. This is a heartbreaking incident, and our thoughts are with everyone grieving during this incredibly difficult time.
The City is actively reviewing the circumstances surrounding this crash and evaluating pedestrian safety conditions in the area. As part of that process, we will continue to assess potential safety strategies and determine whether additional measures may be appropriate. While it is too early to speculate on specific improvements, this incident will certainly be part of our ongoing review of pedestrian safety along the corridor.
Regarding a previous request for a crosswalk at or near this location, the City did receive one request in October 2025 to install a crosswalk in the area. The City evaluates all pedestrian safety requests using established engineering design guidelines, nationally recognized best practices, and site-specific conditions. In the case of mid-block crosswalks, transportation professionals consider a variety of factors, including roadway characteristics, traffic volumes and speeds, pedestrian activity, sight distance, connectivity to existing pedestrian facilities, and available right-of-way. The prior request was evaluated based on those factors. At the time, there were only partial pedestrian facilities on either side of the roadway for a crosswalk to connect to, and there was insufficient right-of-way available to construct the necessary connecting infrastructure.
More broadly, the City's approach to pedestrian safety is to evaluate requests through a data-driven engineering process that balances safety, accessibility, connectivity, and feasibility. We rely on established transportation engineering standards and guidance to help ensure that improvements are implemented where they can provide meaningful safety benefits and function as part of a connected transportation network.
The City remains committed to improving pedestrian safety throughout Westfield and will continue to work with residents, transportation professionals, and public safety partners as we review conditions in this area.
Westfield Mayor Scott Willis said, “At that T-intersection where that young boy was hit, he was crossing the intersection. He was crossing through a private yard where there are no sidewalks. On one side, there were sidewalks because it was the city’s side. On the other side, it’s the county’s side.”
The Republican mayor confirmed that the boy was 7 years old. The mayor said a crosswalk may not have prevented the crash.
“The young boy had crossed the road. His dad and a couple of kids were on the other side. He noticed that they had not crossed. So, he bolted back across the road into ongoing traffic. I’m not sure if a crosswalk would solve anything there. We are taking it seriously. We are looking at all options right now.”
Ralph and other concerned parents said they will continue pushing for safety measures, whether it’s speed bumps, a crosswalk, or anything that could help prevent another crash.
