Newport Beach, CA (February 17, 2024) Every morning at Eastbluff Elementary School, crossing guard Kathy Japes helps keep the children safe as they make their way to school. The children and the surrounding community were shocked on Tuesday, February 13th, when Japes was hit by a vehicle while doing her job. The accident occurred at the intersection of Vista Roma and Vista Del Oro, near the elementary school.
Japes was helping children cross the busy street on their way to school, just as she had done every morning. As she stood in the crosswalk, holding her stop sign in the air for children to cross, a vehicle slammed into her. Authorities said the vehicle was a Volkswagen SUV driven by a teenager. The teen driver wasn’t speeding, but did run a stop sign at the intersection right before hitting Japes.
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Newport Beach police officers quickly arrived at the scene and found Japes on the ground with serious injuries. Paramedics loaded her into an ambulance as a loving community watched. She was rushed to a local hospital with several injuries, including a broken pelvis, broken hip, broken shoulder, broken elbow, a bruised lung and a concussion. She currently remains in ICU as she receives treatment for her injuries.
The community has created a GoFundMe page for Kathy Japes in an attempt to assist her with medical expenses. Catherine Little, who organized the fundraiser, said that Japes is beloved by all of the children at Eastbluff Elementary School, as well as parents and the entire community.
Everyone at Accident News Now extends well wishes to Kathy Japes during this difficult time of healing.
