Missoula, MT (June 13, 2025) – A young child was hospitalized following a collision involving a bicycle and a car Tuesday morning in a residential area near a local school.
First responders, including paramedics and Missoula Fire personnel, were dispatched to the scene at the crosswalk of Phillips St and Shakespeare St after receiving reports of a child struck by a vehicle. The incident occurred as the child was riding a bicycle through the marked crosswalk on their way to school.
Emergency crews provided immediate care to the injured child, who was then transported to a nearby hospital. Fortunately, officials reported that the child sustained only minor injuries and is expected to recover.
Missoula Police confirmed that the driver involved in the crash remained on scene and was issued a citation for a traffic violation. The specific nature of the violation has not been disclosed at this time, but authorities continue to investigate the contributing circumstances.
This incident has renewed concern among local residents, particularly as it adds to a troubling pattern of collisions near Lowell Elementary School. In June 2024, a four-year-old child was hospitalized after darting across Phillips St. In a separate event in 2021, a 10-year-old was struck at the nearby intersection of Phillips St and Hawthorne St.
Our hearts go out to the young victim and their family as the community reflects on the urgent need for enhanced safety measures.
Child-Involved Bicycle Accidents in Montana
The collision at Phillips St and Shakespeare St marks yet another unsettling incident in the Lowell Elementary School area, emphasizing growing community concerns over pedestrian and bicyclist safety—especially for children during peak school travel hours.
Tuesday’s crash follows a disturbing trend in this neighborhood, with at least three child-involved incidents at or near the same stretch of roadway in just the past four years. This cluster of accidents points to deeper issues: insufficient traffic calming infrastructure, limited driver awareness, and the need for school zone enforcement enhancements.
While the child in this most recent case was fortunate to escape with minor injuries, the potential for more severe outcomes remains high. Riding a bicycle through a crosswalk should be safe, especially near a school. But when drivers fail to yield or approach these zones without adequate caution, young lives are endangered.
Local advocacy groups and parents have called for more visible crosswalk markings, improved signage, and even the installation of speed bumps or flashing pedestrian signals. Increased law enforcement visibility during school hours has also been a recurring recommendation.
It is equally critical for both drivers and parents to reinforce safety habits. Motorists must reduce speeds in school zones and approach intersections with vigilance, especially during morning and afternoon peak hours. Parents should discuss with their children the safest routes to school, including when and how to cross the street or navigate on bicycles.
Missoula’s broader transportation and school safety planners may need to evaluate long-term strategies for ensuring safer routes for children. In areas like Phillips St, where repeat incidents have occurred, targeted infrastructure and policy changes could make a life-saving difference.
If your family has been affected by a pedestrian or bicycle crash, you don’t have to navigate the aftermath alone. Help is available to guide you through medical, emotional, and legal recovery options.
Every child deserves a safe path to school. At Local Accident Reports, we’re committed to raising awareness about local incidents and helping families get the support they need. If your child has been injured in a traffic-related crash, contact us today to learn how we can help connect you with the resources and assistance necessary to move forward.
