Crossing Guards Return To Upland After Hit-And-Run Death Of Boy, 11
UPLAND (CBSLA.com) — The family of an 11-year-old boy who was fatally struck by a hit-and-run driver while walking to school in Upland is now helping protect the lives of other children.
Thanks to the family of Isaiah Shelton-Dobine, crossing guards are now working at these Upland intersections for the first time in years.
"He's not here with us physically, but his light, and his spirit is still here with us," said Tamara Strong, Isaiah's grandmother.
To Strong, her grandson's death in October is still an open wound. Isaiah was hit and killed at the intersection of Arrow Highway and Benson Avenue as he walked to Cabrillo Elementary School. The suspected hit-and-run driver, Jason Fehr, was later caught.
"Things will never be the same…Some days are very hard," Strong said.
The day Isaiah was killed, there were no crossing guards in the area – but that changed Tuesday, and the city credits Isaiah's family for lobbying officials nonstop to bring back crossing guards.
"Every child has the right to get to and from school safely, so whatever has to be done to ensure this, that's what we're pushing for," Strong said.
Parents and kids crossing the streets were relieved to see the new crossing guard.
"I feel way safer, like at our school, like we could walk more," one girl said.
The City of Upland says they plan to hire a total of nine crossing guards for the area.
