KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- "I was just hoping and praying that I didn't have to bury my baby," Doneisha Russell said.
It's been a month since the accident at 3rd & Troup, where Russell's 7-year-old son Iveyon chased a ball into the street and was hit by an SUV. Russell said Iveyon saw the SUV coming and tried to get out of the street, but it was too late.
It was an accident, but it's still unknown why the driver didn't see Iveyon. Russell said it could be that a vehicle was blocking the view.
Iveyon has been at Children's Mercy Hospital ever since.
"We don't know if he can be able to recover from this impact, his brain injury. He's not seeing, he can't hear. He's not talking. He has a trach, he has a feeding tube," Russell said.
Iveyon might have to be a wheelchair for the rest of his life.
Just being in the area brings traumatizing memories back for Russell. But now many have their eyes on 3rd Street.
"It's high time that we make sure something happens," said Tom Esselman with Connecting for Good.
Connecting for Good, the computer lab where Iveyon and many kids spend their time after school, is working with the city to prevent another accident.
"Within days, two things happened. The police came on at least three occasions to talk to our kids about public safety. More importantly, the city public works officials came out and started conducting speed tests," Esselman said.
The data from the speed tests just came in, and KCK's traffic engineer will analyze it in the next few days.
"Might be that we restrict parking on the street so visibility is better. Could be we move a crosswalk," Director of Public Works Jeff Fisher said.
There is a crosswalk just a block up the road, but many feel like it would be better right in front of the computer lab.
The speed limit on 3rd is set at 20 mph, but Russell and many others say they see cars going much faster.
"There are so many kids that be down here, and there's a school up the street, so they need to do that fast," Russell said.
Iveyon barely made it out with his life and has a long journey ahead. Russell said she has faith he'll get through it.
"I know he can hear me. His brain is probably just not telling him to respond yet. So hopefully one day he just gets up and talks to me. Waiting. I can't wait for that day to actually happen," said Russell.
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