<!-- /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:""; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:"Times New Roman"; mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";} a:link, span.MsoHyperlink {color:blue; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} a:visited, span.MsoHyperlinkFollowed {color:purple; text-decoration:underline; text-underline:single;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} --The principal of Pennridge North Middle School struck a high school student Monday morning in an accident that was originally called a hit-and-run by Pennridge District officials, according to police.
Dr. Margaret Kantes, the principal of the middle school, hit 15-year-old Ricky Smith at 6:45 a.m. Monday while the he was crossing the street to school, say police.
"The car hit him and like his legs split," student Kristin Rosato said as she described the accident.
Police say Kantes did stop her car and helped the teen, who suffered a head injury but was still conscious, before he was flown to Lehigh Valley Hospital. He was last listed in critical condition, district officials said.
“My thoughts and prayers go out to the young man injured in the accident this morning and to his family and friends," Dr. Kantes said in a statement Monday. “Having dedicated my entire professional career to young people and their education, their well-being has always been my utmost concern. I am personally devastated by what happened to this young man and pray for his speedy recovery.”
The accident was originally called a hit and run by district officials after they released a statement saying an unknown driver fled the scene, but that claim was later dismissed by police. The district offered no comment on the mix-up.
"We don't have any indication that there's any excessive speed," Pennridge police chief David Mettin said.
No charges have been filed.
