CINCINNATI (WXIX) - Students at Western Hills University High School are working to promote pedestrian safety.

The informal group is guided by Jeff Demaree, a psychology and history teacher at the school.

Demaree told FOX 19 that he was affected by the death of Gabby Rodriguez, an 18-year-old West High student who died in 2018 after being hit by a car while crossing the street on her way to school.

“This is the phone call no parent wants to hear,” he said. “‘Your child didn’t make it to school safe because as a pedestrian, they were struck trying to get to school.’”

He explained that Rodriguez’s death is far from the only incident that West High has suffered.

“There are a lot of near-misses that aren’t recorded,” Demaree said.

That’s why he offered his students an opportunity to help

See Full Page