Papillion, NE (January 10, 2026) – Two children were injured on January 8 after being struck by vehicles while crossing streets near schools in Sarpy County, sparking renewed concerns from local parents over school zone safety. The separate incidents occurred in the cities of Papillion and La Vista during morning hours, as students were on their way to school.
The first crash took place near the intersection of Giles Rd and Edgewood Blvd, where a young boy was struck while crossing the street in a marked crosswalk. According to his mother, Kyndra Bendickson, the child had been following pedestrian safety rules when a driver clipped his foot. Emergency medical staff were called to the scene, and the child’s injuries were reported as minor. The driver reportedly fled following the crash, prompting concern and frustration from the boy’s family.
Just minutes earlier, another child was hit near the intersection of 72nd St and Centennial Rd while riding a scooter through a crosswalk. That child was also evaluated after the incident, though further details about their condition have not been released.
In the aftermath, parents across the community are calling for increased school zone enforcement and improved pedestrian protections. Some have begun organizing volunteer crossing guards in an effort to make morning routes safer for local children.
Police described these types of crashes as rare in the area but acknowledged growing concern around driver attentiveness during school hours.
We wish both children a swift recovery and stand with the families advocating for safer streets in Sarpy County.
