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Crossing Guard Hit On West Shore Is In Intensive Care

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By KEITH MORELLI, The Tampa Tribune

Published: October 26, 2007

TAMPA - Wednesday morning was dark and wet. Rain pelted the pavement at the corner of West Shore Boulevard and Montgomery Avenue. That's where Beulah May Lofts, in a gray crossing-guard shirt and green pants, was struck and critically injured.

She had been at the intersection for only a few minutes.

On Thursday morning, as Lofts lay in the intensive care unit at Tampa General Hospital, classes continued at nearby Monroe Middle and Lanier Elementary schools, just a half-block from where the 76-year-old woman was struck.

About a half-dozen children walk across West Shore Boulevard to get to class, school officials said. Mainly, they come from the Camden Bayside apartment complex on the west side of the road.

Wednesday's accident was the first involving a school crossing guard this year, sheriff's officials said, and it was the most serious in recent history.

There are nearly 300 crossing guards stationed throughout the county, and Hillsborough County sheriff's officials, who administer the program, said they are always looking for people to take up the duty.

The sheriff's office is trying to fill about a dozen crossing-guard vacancies. Guards are required to work in the mornings and afternoons and are paid $10 an hour.

Lofts was not escorting children across the street when she was struck. She was walking to her position at the intersection before students showed up.
Tampa police said she walked in front of a BMW driven by Beverly Kermode, 59, of Clearwater. No charges were immediately filed.

Ophelia Saffold stood at the intersection Thursday morning. She's a 28-year crossing-guard veteran and serves as a regional supervisor in the program. She waved to passing drivers, and they all waved back. Her hand-held stop sign leaned against the bright green-yellow school crossing sign on the west side of West Shore Boulevard.

Most of the children crossing here probably are heading to Lanier Elementary School on Montgomery Avenue.

Reporter Keith Morelli can be reached at (813) 259-7760 or kmorelli@tampatrib.com.

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