ThePshawPrint Hallway Pile Up “Worst” on Record Administration Scrambles for Solution to Traffic Violations in Halls

BY AMY MANZENARES

On March 13th at 10:18 a.m., Wilde Lake experienced its first ever major hallway crash, leading to a seven person pile and sending four to the Health Room.

Disaster hit the intersection on the second floor between the main stairs and the bridge after a student who was on his phone failed to give the right of way to a group of three freshmen on his left, according to the Wilde Lake Department of Safety.

Three more students were caught in the mix as the freshmen stumbled back into another group. Several students attempting to dodge the accident tripped over one another but managed to avoid the wreck.

A total of seven students were involved in the pileup, according to Wilde Lake police: Anthony Palmer, Reagan Irvine, Liam Field, Oliver Owens, Omar Olsen, Olivia O’Brien, and Lexi Smith. Four of the students are being treated with ice packs and band-aids.

First responder Elizabeth Woolridge says this is the “worst” accident she has seen in years.

“I got a call from the administration telling me the situation and I was still absolutely shocked when I arrived on the scene,” she said. “Seven people involved and a whole hallway at a standstill is unheard of for a passing time crash. It really was a terrifying sight to see.”

Although Wilde Lake police and staff have declined to comment on the details of the crash for “privacy reasons,” it is believed that the problem originated from slow walkers. According to 2022 Howard County statistics, 95% of in-school traffic collisions in the past five years were due to slow walkers.

Slow walking is caused, in part, by students being on their phones, according to HCPSS. Freshman Abel Tesfaye, who was on the scene when the crash occurred, describes the experience as “scarring.”

“I was heading to my fourth period when all of a sudden I heard a loud noise in front of me,” said Abel. “I looked over and saw one body crashing after another. If I hadn’t quickly swerved to the right, I would’ve been one of them too.”

At an emergency staff meeting, principal Ms. Leonard expressed concern not only for the students, but for staff safety as well.

Ms. April, a Culinary Science teacher, says her safety has been put at risk multiple times on the way to the microwave due to slow walkers.

“Everytime I’m forced to go outside to heat up ingredients for my next class, I’m scared I’m going to knock

Fourth Floor Pool “Unsafe”

BY ARIELLE

someone over,” she said.

Just one day after the accident, Wilde Lake traffic guards were put in place at every intersection.

To further prevent another collision, Ms. Leonard says she is introducing a “safe walking class” next year to teach students about the importance of following hallway traffic laws.

Junior Montero Hill says he has decided to sign up for the class next year instead of taking his required math credit.

“I didn’t realize how bad the problem was until now,” said Montero. “I’m excited to learn more about how to be safe in the hallways in this year long class. It seems like a great opportunity that will teach me more useful life lessons than Calculus, like how to walk in a hallway.”

On March 24th, the fourthfloor pool was declared “unfit for activity” by the Maryland Health Department after failing their yearly chemical inspections.

According to the five-person team, all of them emerged from last Monday’s practice with “lime green hair.”

“I’m no chemist, but my hair shouldn’t be bright green,” says Phelps Micheal, Wilde Lake’s star butterflier for the swim club.

Swim club President Fisher says he attributes this to the lifeguards’ “inattentiveness.”

“That’s how we almost lost one of our swimmers last year,” said Fisher. “The lifeguards are so distracted by their phones that they don’t even notice when someone goes under the water for too long or when the pool is oozing green.”

One of the two lifeguards on duty when the swimmers’ hair turned green, who chose to remain nameless, says that “minimum wage only motivates so much.”

The course will be taught by the gym teachers. Administration says they “hope” that HCPSS adopts this class around the county.

As for now, Wilde Lake is holding an open forum on April 1, 2023 to draft new hallway traffic patterns.