Parents at a Berkeley elementary school are calling on the city to add more street lights to a nearby crosswalk.
The request comes after a fourth grader was hit by a taxi in the area late Tuesday. The student suffered broken legs as a result of the collision.
"Close calls are very common here," parent Eric Sloan said.
Sloan is referring to the crosswalk on Claremont Avenue, which is also in front of John Muir Elementary School.
Parents are frustrated and said there is not enough street lighting in the area and want city officials to fix it.
"I'd say every couple of months somebody sails right past or screeches to a halt," Sloan said.
On Tuesday night, police said a student was hit by a taxi while using the crosswalk. The driver stayed at the scene and was released without incident, police said.
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The accident has prompted an online petition by parents calling on the city to install more pedestrian lighting at the crosswalk.
"It's unfortunate that a young girl had to get hit by a car," Sloan said. "But you know if that gets the focus, that's great."
Matthai Chakko with the City of Berkeley said installing more lighting in the area is a possibility.
"Adding rapidly flashing beacons, both on the street side poles and overhead," Chakko said.
The city, however, said its past five requests for state grants to pay for it have been denied.
"For us as a city our primary concern is our residents and the people visiting here are safe," Chakko said.
The city will apply for a grant next year to pay for the lighting.
In the meantime, the city will look for ways to pay for it without state funding.
