CYPRESS, Texas — A Cypress family is sharing their story after their 9-year-old daughter was hit by a car as she was riding her bike to school. It took place in a crosswalk near McGown Elementary in Cypress-Fairbanks ISD, a district that just this year cut back on bus routes.
The accident happened off Summer Camp Drive and Westgreen Boulevard -- just a block away from the elementary school. Fourth-grader Azucena Aguilar said it was only a matter of time until something like this happened.
Wednesday was Astros Day at McGown Elementary and Azucena was biking to school, midway through the crosswalk, when she saw the car coming.
"While I was almost there, the car just swung by and hit me," Azucena said. "I remember flying up and hitting my hip real hard which was hurting real bad."
Her mom watched it all unfold.
"I was in disbelief, I couldn't believe it happened," Nina Aguilar said. "I was in shock."
"I just saw my mom running towards me," Azucena said.
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Azucena talked to KHOU 11 News from her living room while still wearing the Astros gear she put on in the morning. She ended up at the hospital and, fortunately, suffered only minor bumps and bruises.
Her parents spoke out, concerned it could happen again to someone else.
"Obviously if transportation was still provided, this could have been preventable," her father Antonio said.
Many families like the Aguilars were left without bussing options after district cuts earlier this year impacted families living within 2 miles of campus.
"No parents should have to go to work worried -- 'Is my kid going to make it to the elementary today?'" Antonio said. "That needs to be the last thing on our minds."
Law enforcement confirmed the driver who hit Azucena was cited for not having insurance and failing to yield the right of way.
Azucena's parents wish more could have been done.
"This wasn't a simple bump, she went airborne off the bike," Antonio said. "It could have been a lot more serious. This should have been more than a slap on the wrist."
The Harris County District Attorney's Office said it declined further charges but added it wasn't informed this happened in a crosswalk.
KHOU 11 News asked the Pct. 5 Constable's office about that, and a spokesperson reiterated that's not true. The constable's office said it made clear this all happened in a crosswalk.
Cy-Fair ISD also released a statement in response to questions from KHOU 11. It is below:
"We urge all drivers to exercise extreme caution around school zones or in neighborhoods where students walk or bike to and from school. Crossing Guard training is offered by CFPD for neighborhoods interested in organizing volunteers to be trained to monitor intersections in their community. See https://www.cfisd.net/departments/cfisd-police. With an initially projected $138 million budget deficit for 2024-2025, reducing transportation services was a difficult decision that was necessary to prevent further reductions in staff at the campus level. There is minimal state reimbursement for providing transportation services to students living within two miles of a campus."