INDEPENDANT SCHOOL DISTRICT REFUSES TO TAKE RESPONSIBILITY FOR ACCIDENTS ON
ITS
ITS CAMPUSES. TWO CAMPUSES.. TWO CAR WRECKS. BOTH
WITH HEAD INJURIES.
THE FAMILIES CALLED THE KVUE
DEFENDERS
WHEN THEY COULDN'T GET ANSWERS.
INVESTIGATIVE REPORTER ERICA
PROFFER TELLS US. WHY
FAMILIES SAY SCHOOL DISTRICT
LEADERS WON'T
TALK TO THEM.
THE JOY FROM WATCHING HER
DAUGHTER PLAY REMINDS CHRISTY LITZ HOW LUCKY SHE IS TO
BE ALIVE.
IT'S PRETTY SCARY, YEAH
CHRISTY WAS HIT IN THE HEAD LAST
MONTH WHEN A GATE
ARM CRASHED THROUGH HER
WINDSHIELD.
I DON'T KNOW HOW THE GATE GOT
THERE. I JUST REMEMBER
DROPPING MY DAUGHTER OFF,
GETTING IN THE CORRECT LANE. I
REMEMBER THE CROSSING GUARD THAT
STANDS IN THE ROAD AND
TELLING
TELLING ME I WAS NEXT, THAT I COULD GO. THEN, ALL OF THE SUDDEN, HEAD
PAIN.
IT HAPPENED WALSH MIDDLE SCHOOL
IN ROUND ROCK.
CHRISTY DROPPED OFF HER
DAUGHTER, CLAIRE,
MOMENTS BEFORE THE WRECK. I JUST
REMEMBER EVERYONE. KIND OF..
CHAOS. HEAD PAIN.
A CONCUSSION, THREE STITCHES.
AND THE CAR. TOTALED.
I WAS LIKE, AN ACCIDENT
INVOLVING MY WIFE, WHAT?
CHRIS LITZ RECORDED THIS VIDEO
MOMENTS AFTER
PARAMEDICS RUSHED CHRISTIE TO
THE HOSPITAL.
SEEING BLOOD IN THE CAR AND
SEEING GLASS JUST
EVERYWHERE. IMAGINING IF CLAIRE
WAS IN THE BACK.
I DIDN'T GET ON THE CURB OR
ANYTHING SOMEHOW THE GATE ARM
SWUNG INTO THE SCHOOL DRIVEWAY.
THAT'S WHERE IT HAPPENED, RIGHT
THERE TODAY, A DIFFERENT COAT OF
PAINT COVERS A LATCH.
A
A CHAIN
A CHAIN HOLDS THE ARM IN PLACE. LIKE THIS.. NO, THIS IS A DIFFERENT COLOR.
WHILE THIS MAY SOUNDS LIKE A
FREAK ACCIDENT,
WHAT ARE THE ODDS
IT'S HAPPENED BEFORE. AT ANOTHER
ROUND ROCK
ISD SCHOOL.
IT WENT IN THE RIGHT SIDE OF MY
WINDSHIELD AND OUT THE BACK.
KATHI SAYS THIS GATE ARM AT LIVE
OAK ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL, ALSO, NOT CHAINED.
BLENDED IN WITH THE
PAVEMENT IN THE DRIVEWAY
IT HIT MY GRANDDAUGHTER IN THE
FACE
KATHY HALL'S GRANDDAUGHTE R,
JORDAN, STILL LIVES WITH THE
SCARS
SCARS FROM TWO YEARS AGO. I REMEMBER MY GRANDMA COMING AROUND TO THE SIDE AND PUTTING
HER JACKET ON THE SIDE OF MY
FACE.
PLASTIC SURGEONS TRIED TO HELP
JORDAN HEAL.
SHE LOST HER ABILITY TO SMILE.
THIS
THIS ONE
THIS ONE WENT DOWN AND THIS ONE. ERICA: DO THEY TEASE YOU? JORDAN: YES.. SOME OF THE BOYS
WILL MAKE FUN OF MY SCARS AND
THEY'LL BE LIKE WHAT'S THAT ON
YOUR FACE. ERICA: HOW DOES THAT
MAKE YOU FEEL? JORDAN - SAD AND
DISAPPOINTED
EVEN THOUGH THE SCHOOLS FIXED
BOTH GATES.
YOU CAN SEE HOW A HOOD HAS BEEN
ADDED
ADDED THE
ADDED THE DISTRICT IS NOT LEGALLY RESPONSIBLE. WHICH MEANS THE FAMILIES.OR THEIR
INSURANCE.HA
VE TO PAY FOR THE DAMAGE.
BROKEN WINDSHIELD RIGHT THERE
UNDER STATE LAW .SCHOOLS IN
TEXAS HAVE "SOVEREIGN
IMMUNITY" WHICH MEANS LAWSUITS
CANNOT BE
FILED FOR PERSONAL INJURY
ACCIDENTS ON
CAMPUS.
WE SEND OUR CHILDREN THERE AND
THEY'RE NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR
THEM. THAT'S CRAZY
THIS LETTER TO CHRISTY FROM THE
ROUND ROCK ISD'S
CLAIMS ATTORNEY SAYS THE SCHOOL
DISTRICT "MUST
RESPECTFULLY DISCLAIM
LIABILITY". "BECAUSE OF
THE DISTRICT'S IMMUNITY."
THEY'RE JUST NOT LIABLE FOR
ANYTHING
BOTH FAMILIES SAY THE DISTRICT'S
LEADERS GAVE
NO CONDOLENCES . OR APOLOGIES
THE PRINCIPAL AND THE NURSE AT
WALSH WERE AMAZING .. THE
COLDNESS FROM THE DISTRICT IS
WHAT'S KILLING ME
I THNK THAT WAS WRONG
CHILDREN
CHILDREN LISTEN AND LEARN. FOR THEM TO HAVE THEIR SCHOOL GATE OUT AND FOR IT TO HIT A CHILD IN
THE FACE
AND FORM THEIR OWN RULES FOR
LIFE.
SHOULD AT LEAST CHAIN ALL OF THE
GATES OR FIND A NEW WAY
WE REPEATEDLY ASKED THE ROUND
ROCK ISD
ADMINISTRATION FOR AN ON- CAMERA
INTERVIEW.
INTERVIEW.
THEY
THEY DENIED US. BUT ASSURED... "OUR CAMPUSES WORK TO MAKE STUDENT PICK
UP AND DROP OFF, AS WELL AS
VISITING PROCESSES, AS
SAFE AS POSSIBLE..."
THE FULL STATEMENT IS ONLINE AS
WELL AS INFORMATION
ON HOW THE LAW PROTECTING PUBLIC
SCHOOLS FROM INJURY LAWSUITS.
FOR THE KVUE DEFENDERS.. ERICA
PROFFER.. KVUE NEWS.
IF
IF YOU
IF YOU HAVE SOMETHING YOU'D LIKE THE DEFENDERS TO INVESTIGATE, EMAIL DEFENDERS AT
KVUE DOT COM.
OR CALL OUR HOTLINE -- 515-