16-Year-Old High School Student Hit by Truck While Crossing Marbach Road

According to a News4SanAntonio report, a high school student is in critical condition after being struck by a pickup while crossing the street.¹

Police say the accident happened at around 2 p.m. Tuesday, September 16th, in the 7600 block of Marbach Road in front of John Jay High School on the West Side. A 16-year-old male student from the high school was crossing in the marked crosswalk when he was hit by a Ford F-150 pickup truck. Witnesses say the boy flew over the windshield.

He was taken to the hospital in critical condition. The driver stayed at the scene and is not facing charges.

---

Did You Know?

Eight people have been hit by cars along a four-block stretch of Marbach near John Jay High School in the last five years, according to crash data from the city’s transportation department.¹

---

Why Drivers Must Use Extra Caution in School Zones

School zones are designed to keep children safe, but the reality is that they can also be some of the most dangerous places on the road. Every day, you’ll see a mix of parents in a hurry to drop off or pick up their kids, students rushing across the street, and frustrated drivers stuck in heavy traffic. On top of that, parked cars often block visibility, making it harder for drivers to see children stepping into the crosswalk.

Even when a crosswalk is marked and signals are present, the chaos of a school zone can quickly turn into tragedy if drivers aren’t paying attention or if students misjudge traffic. The crash on Marbach Road is a sobering example of how quickly things can go wrong.

What Texas Law Says About School Zones

Texas has strict rules in place to reduce accidents in and around schools. These laws aren’t just recommendations—they’re legally enforceable and carry real consequences when broken.

• Reduced speed limits: Most school zones drop to 20 mph. These limits are enforced during designated hours and are meant to give drivers enough time to react if a child suddenly crosses the street.

• No phone use: Using a handheld device in an active school zone is illegal. Even glancing down for a moment can mean missing a child stepping off the curb.

• Yield to pedestrians: Students in a crosswalk always have the right of way. Drivers are required to stop completely until the pedestrian has crossed safely.

Breaking these laws can result in steep fines, points on your license, and, in some cases, criminal charges if a pedestrian is injured. More importantly, ignoring these rules puts children’s lives at risk.

How Drivers and Parents Can Help

Keeping school zones safe isn’t just the job of police officers or crossing guards—it’s a shared responsibility between drivers and parents.

Drivers can do their part by slowing down, staying patient even when traffic is frustrating, and keeping their eyes on the road. Expect the unexpected: kids may run between cars, dart into the street without looking, or misjudge how far away a vehicle is.

Parents also play a huge role. By teaching children safe habits—like using crosswalks, waiting for signals, and looking both ways before crossing—parents can prepare kids to handle busy roads with more caution. Small reminders before and after school add up and make a real difference.

 

---

¹News4SanAntonio report