FAIRWAY, Kan. — A young boy who was hit by a driver while riding a bicycle at an intersection in the Reinhardt Estates in Fairway, Kansas, faces a long road to recovery.
People who live in the neighborhood say the intersection of Reinhardt and Howe Drives is a known problem.
"It's kind of complex intersection that people kind of struggle with," Ben Sosinski, who lives in the area, told 41 Action News.
Last Tuesday, a driver struck and seriously injured Carter Wright as he rode his bike with a friend.
Sosinski was among the first to see the aftermath.
"The child was on the ground unconscious he was laying in the street," he said.
Although Wright was wearing a helmet, he sustained three brain bleeds and a fractured skull, according to family friends.
The boy spent his 11th birthday in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit.
Wright remains in the hospital and faces a long journey to recovery.
Sosinski said some drivers cut through his driveway to avoid the intersection.
"There's been numerous people complaining about this intersection to the city for quite a while now and nothing has happened yet," he said.
Some believe the recent construction boom in the area is a factor.
"You know we went from kind of that sleepy neighborhood to a fair amount - a large amount - of traffic coming through with a lot of people who aren't familiar with the neighborhood or the traffic flow," Wyatt Brummer, another resident said.
41 Action News took their concerns to Fairway Police and City Hall.
The city adminstrator, Nathan T. Nogelmeier, sent 41 Action News the following statement:
"The accident that occurred last week at Reinhardt and Howe drives is still under investigation. The City of Fairway has not received a report from the investigating agency. Following the accident, the Chief of Police researched accident history throughout the City and found no accidents have been recorded at that intersection for the past 15 years, which is as far back as the information is readily available. That said, the City takes accidents like this very seriously. A local engineering firm has been engaged to study this complex intersection to determine if there are any steps that can be taken to improve safety. Any recommendations would comply with the Manual on Uniform Traffic Control Devices, which defines the standards used by road managers nationwide to install and maintain traffic control devices on all public streets, highways, bikeways, and private roads open to public travel. We hope to have the results of that study in a few weeks."
"I think stop signs and signs up and down the street to watch for children, 'cause there are a lot of children in this neighborhood," Sosinski suggested as a possible solution.
Residents said they hope the crash will compel the city to make changes at the intersection.
"You know the city of Fairway is excellent on planning on the housing and those types of ordinances. As far as the street side goes, maybe not quite as well," Brummer said.
A GoFundMe campaign has been set up to help Wright's family with medical expenses and other costs.
