CHESAPEAKE, Va. — The crossing guard who was hit by a car in Chesapeake on the morning of October 16 shares an urgent message with drivers to pay attention on the roads.
Just days later on October 24, a similar crash happened outside a school in Virginia Beach.
13News Now sat down exclusively with Pamela Fitzgerald, who said she loves working as a crossing guard at Great Bridge High School in Chesapeake.
"It's part of the community. It gets me up in the morning, but I found I love my job. I love my kids. The students are great," said Fitzgerald.
At the same time, she recognizes the risks.
"I almost get hit by a car every shift," said Fitzgerald. "It's getting to be more dangerous."
On October 16, a driver ran into Fitzgerald while she was working and wearing bright gear. She was taken to the hospital.
"I hurt a lot. It's hard to walk. I can't carry stuff," said Fitzgerald.
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The car hit her at a "low speed," Chesapeake police said. However, as Fitzgerald undergoes physical therapy, she worries about the future.
"I don't know what I'm going to do now," she said tearfully. "And at my age, too, I'm getting a little more brittle. I'm still tough. It's like, OK."
Fitzgerald is currently unable to work as a guard at Great Bridge as she recovers. However, she fondly recalled visiting students and staff on October 20.
The driver in Fitzgerald's crash stayed and received a ticket for disobeying signals by a crossing guard, a police spokesperson said.
While Fitzgerald does not have a catch-all solution, she believes body-worn and speed cameras in the Great Bridge High School Zone could enhance safety.
Speed cameras are already installed outside several school campuses in Chesapeake.
"[Drivers] just don't pay attention, and I heard about the woman in Virginia Beach. I used to live in Queens. Another crossing guard got killed last week in Queens," said Fitzgerald.
At the end of the day, she just knows something has to change.
The crossing guard who was hit and injured outside New Castle Elementary School on Dam Neck Road in Virginia Beach went to the hospital. Police said she has serious injuries and faces a long recovery ahead.