Daughter's Pedestrian Accident Spurs Colorado Mom to Sue

By Evan Mix

Published on May 31, 2007

Makayla Bowman, a first-grader at Pear Park Elementary School in Grand Junction, was struck by a car as she tried to cross a busy road in a location that lacked a crossing guard or crosswalk. She sustained a fractured skull and pelvis, and was hospitalized for three days.

In notices of claims sent by her attorney to city, county, and school district officials, Dawn Bowman, Makayla's mother, alleges that a school crossing guard told Makayla to walk on the north side of a busy street near the school. The school requires students to walk on that side of the street because it has a sidewalk. When Makayla later crossed the street to get to her house, Bowman alleges, she was forced to do so in a location that had no crosswalk or crossing guard.

Bowman states in her claims that city and county officials had noticed the area was dangerous but failed to take proper action.

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