KEARNS, Utah — A tragic accident occurred Thursday morning when a 12-year-old student was struck by a vehicle while biking across a crosswalk near Kearns Junior High School. The incident took place at approximately 7:45 a.m. when Adam Mahamat, a student at the school, entered the crosswalk on 4140 West and was hit by a Chevy Tahoe traveling eastbound on Sams Boulevard.
First responders arrived at the scene shortly after the collision and began performing life-saving measures on the victim. Mahamat was then transported to a local hospital in critical condition but, despite efforts to save him, was later pronounced dead from his injuries.
The Granite School District expressed deep sorrow over the loss, releasing a statement that read, “The school is heartbroken. Kearns Junior High is an incredibly close-knit community, and this accident has had far-reaching effects.” The district also confirmed that its Crisis Response Team was on site providing support to both students and staff. The team will continue to be available at the school to assist families with ongoing support and resources.
Kearns Mayor Kelly Bush offered condolences to the community, noting that crossing guards are stationed at major intersections around the school, including 4000 West and Sams Boulevard. Other streets in the area are equipped with traffic devices designed to facilitate safe crossings, such as flashing crosswalk signs activated by pedestrians. Despite these safety measures, Bush acknowledged that the investigation into the incident was ongoing, with local law enforcement and an accident reconstruction team working to determine the cause of the crash. “This horrible tragedy continues to be under investigation. As always, we will work with our local law enforcement and accident reconstruction team to identify any necessary improvements. Our hearts go out to everyone involved in this tragedy,” Mayor Bush said.
The driver involved in the crash is cooperating with authorities, and police have confirmed that the investigation remains active. Both school officials and law enforcement are urging caution around school zones, emphasizing the importance of vigilance from both drivers and pedestrians.
Granite School District issued a reminder, urging students to be especially careful when crossing streets. “Students – please pay attention when you’re crossing the street and look both ways before crossing,” the district stated. “Drivers, please be extra vigilant when you’re driving in or around school zones, especially before and after school.”
The tragic event has left the Kearns community in mourning as they come together to support one another during this difficult time.