Family Calls For Changes After Child Struck While Biking Through Newtown Intersection

A Newtown Borough mother and father went before the Newtown Township Board of Supervisors last week and asked for better safety improvements for pedestrians and bicyclists after their son was struck by a car while biking home from Newtown Middle School.

Michelle McNamara, joined by her husband, David, told the board last Wednesday that their son was biking home from school the previous Monday when he was struck at Swamp and South Eagle roads in the township.

“He pressed the pedestrian crossing sign and waited for the walk signal to appear before beginning to cross the intersection in the crosswalk,” she said. “Unfortunately, a vehicle that was turning right on red out of the shopping center hit him.”

McNamara said her son escaped without major injuries. But the close call, she said, exposed what the family sees as a dangerous conflict between vehicles and people walking or biking through an intersection surrounded by schools and shopping centers.

“Thankfully, our son did not sustain major injuries,” McNamara said. “However, this incident has highlighted to us the need to make this intersection safer and more pedestrian and cyclist friendly.”

The intersection of Swamp and South Eagle roads sits near Council Rock High School North and Newtown Middle School and serves several shopping areas.

“This particular intersection is especially busy because of the proximity to the high school and the middle school and the shopping centers,” she said. “With the crosswalks and significant pedestrian and bicycle traffic, it is important that drivers and pedestrians can navigate this intersection safely.”

The family offered supervisors several possible changes. One idea proffered to them is prohibiting right turns on red for vehicles leaving the shopping center and entering the intersection.

“This could help reduce conflicts with pedestrians and cyclists crossing Swamp Road,” she said.

She also suggested flashing pedestrian warnings or signs similar to those used elsewhere around Newtown.

The family told supervisors they understand any changes would require further review and offered to work with township officials.

“Our son was fortunate to walk away with only minor injuries, but we want to help prevent something serious from happening in the future to any residents of our community,” McNamara said.

Supervisors appeared receptive to having the concerns examined. The family was asked to send its information to township staff so it could be distributed to the entire board.

Supervisor Melissa Merk said the concerns extended beyond the single collision described by the family.

“I share your concern with that intersection and the intersection right before it where there’s not a stop sign and I’ve seen children running across the street there to get from Rita’s over to Primo or whatever in that shopping center,” Merk said, adding that driver behavior approaching the traffic signal has also caught their attention.

“I find that a lot of cars are rushing to the light to make the light before it changes. Not really paying attention,” Merk said. “So I share your concerns.”

No formal traffic-control changes were approved Wednesday.

The family’s request nevertheless arrives amid a broader township discussion about pedestrian infrastructure and road spending.

Earlier in the meeting, during debate over Newtown’s proposed 2027 budget, Merk specifically identified roads, paving, plowing and crosswalks among the services residents repeatedly raise with township officials.

“Roads, paving, plowing, crosswalks. These are topics that come up in this room probably more than any other,” she said.

Newtown currently budgets about $850,000 for its road program, according to the budget discussion. Merk argued that amount should increase, citing road spending of $1.8 million in both Northampton and Lower Makefield townships and $1.15 million in Doylestown Township.

“I believe we need more money for our roads program,” she said.

The proposed budget did not advance for advertisement Wednesday as supervisors continued debating spending priorities, taxes and township reserves.

For the McNamaras, however, the issue Wednesday was considerably more immediate. Their son was able to walk away.

They want to make sure the next child does, too.