Cross country: LAUSD issues safety alert

In the wake of the death of Conor Lynch, a Sherman Oaks Notre Dame cross country runner who was killed by a hit-and-run driver on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Unified School District has issued a safety alert to athletic directors recommending pedestrian safety precautions for their athletes.

Among the suggestions: Always use the sidewalk. Dress to be seen. Cross streets only at marked crosswalks or intersections. Turn off headphones while crossing the street to hear approaching traffic.

Cross-country athletes in Los Angeles train by running on streets, and coaches say there are dangers.

A North Hills Monroe runner was struck and seriously injured last year by a driver who ran a red light, Coach Leo Hernandez said. Hernandez was struck by a car when training for Cal State Northridge. He said he sends out runners in pairs and tries to avoid busy streets when his athletes train.

What's clear is that the cross country community is in mourning.

"I pray for Notre Dame," Birmingham Coach Scott King said.

-- Eric Sondheimer

 

Comments

[Patcait]

While all the hindsight and reaffirmation of better practices for runners evolve there is one intangible risk: teen boys are neither consistent in behavior or thought even when personal safety is at stake. I wish things were different.