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Show Parents of injured children beg support j BOUNTIFUL Members of three families, whose lives changed forever when two children were injured in-jured and a third died in school crossing accidents, agree with proposed pro-posed legislation making lighted crosswalks mandatory. "I totally support the legislation to insist that flashing signals be installed," in-stalled," said Suzanne Ramaileh, whose then 5-year-old daughter, Anisa, was injured when she was struck by a car in a school crosswalk. The accident occurred just one day after Anisa watched her best friend, 5-year-old Christi Steuart get hit by a car in another school crosswalk. Christi and her 8-year-old sister Kimberly, were struck by a car Sept. 12, 1989 as they crossed 1800 S. 900 E. in Bountiful. The two were airlifted to Primary Children's Medical Center, where Christi died from her injuries. Her sisters was treated for injuries and released "People do not pay attention when there are no flashing signals, and little kids can't be seen," said Mrs. Ramileh. She said crossing guards do not always walk to the middle of the street With the children. "The little expense it would cost if it saved just one child's life would be worth it," she said. "I know the cities and the school district argue about who's responsible responsi-ble for it. It seems the only people who are heard by the legislators are the ones that scream. It seems it's going to take more dead children before action is taken," she said. Mrs. Ramileh said neither of her daughters, Anisa or her older sister who witnessed the 1989 accident will walk to school. "They're terrified ter-rified of parking lots and street crossings. They haven't walked to school since the accident occurred," oc-curred," she said. Ahmad Khamedoost was the driver of the car that struck Anisa. His wife, Cindy, said her husband has often spoken of how impossible it was for him to see the school ' " crossing. "We think this legislation ; is critical. If there had been flashing signals on the crosswalk, it would have definitely changed the out- , come," said Mrs. Khamedoost. '. T "People just don't even notice a school zone unless it has flashing ' signals," she said. Although she-; believes the proposed increase in 1 ' mandatory fines for speeding z -; - through school zones "is pretty ! high," Mrs. Khamedoost said she-! believes if the crosswalk is marked with flashing signals "it is - justified." -'. |