LA PLATA, MD (December 2, 2025) — A school crossing guard suffered a serious leg injury this morning after a vehicle struck her while she directed traffic on Radio Station Road near La Plata High School in Charles County.
The incident occurred at 7:06 a.m. as the guard stood in the roadway at the high school entrance, assisting students and parents during the busy arrival period. She had signaled a northbound vehicle to make a left turn from the school access road across Radio Station Road when the front right corner of the car clipped her leg, causing her to fall.
Emergency medical personnel transported the guard to an area hospital for treatment of what Charles County Sheriff’s Office officials described as a serious but non-life-threatening leg injury. Her name and current condition have not been released.
The driver, whose identity has also been withheld pending the investigation, remained at the scene and cooperated with deputies. No charges have been announced.
Corporal Griffith of the Charles County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Operations Unit is leading the investigation. Deputies are reviewing witness statements and any available surveillance or dash-camera footage from the area.
Radio Station Road, a two-lane roadway that runs parallel to U.S. Route 301 in northern La Plata, serves as the primary access route for La Plata High School and several nearby neighborhoods. The school entrance sits opposite a small commercial area and experiences heavy traffic volume between 6:45 a.m. and 7:30 a.m. on school days.
Charles County Public Schools employs adult crossing guards at more than 30 locations countywide, including several along high-traffic corridors near middle and high schools. Guards wear high-visibility vests and use hand-held stop signs while directing vehicles and escorting students across marked crosswalks.
The Sheriff’s Office reminds drivers that Maryland law requires motorists to stop and remain stopped for a crossing guard displaying a stop sign in the roadway. Violations can carry fines up to $1,000 and possible jail time if injury occurs.
This is the second incident involving a Charles County school crossing guard in the past 18 months. In May 2024, a guard near Malcolm Elementary School in Waldorf was struck by a mirror and sustained minor injuries; that driver received a citation.
La Plata High School, home to approximately 1,200 students in grades nine through 12, opened as usual today. School officials notified parents of the incident through the district’s automated messaging system and increased staff presence at the entrance during afternoon dismissal.
Anyone who witnessed the collision or has relevant video is asked to contact Cpl. Griffith at the Charles County Sheriff’s Office at 301-609-6405. Tips may also be submitted anonymously through Charles County Crime Solvers at 1-866-411-TIPS.
