14-year-old injured in hit-and-run, mother blames city’s signage

PAWTUCKET, R.I. (WLNE) – A Pawtucket mother is calling for change after her son was seriously injured in a hit-and-run.

On July 17th, 14-year-old Joseph Oliveira went outside to play with his friends in his neighborhood near Broadway.

Shortly after leaving the house, Joseph’s mother, Angela Strohl, got the message no mother wants to hear.  

“They were gone less than two minutes when my 9–year–old niece came running back in the house and screamed ‘Joseph! Accident! Street! Run!'” recalled Strohl. 

Joseph suffered a fractured fibula and tibia and a hematoma on his head.

It took police several days to track down the driver, who is now charged and in jail.

However, Joseph, who is special needs, is still scared to go back on the street. 

“I don’t want to go outside anymore,” said Joseph. 

Strohl partially blames the hit-and-run on the outdated signage in her neighborhood.

Her family lives on Japonica Street, which used to be a two-way street. It was changed to a one-way street several years ago, but the caution signs in the area were not changed.

There are “Children at Play” signs in the area, but they’re facing the wrong way. The city never turned the signs around when the road was switched to a one-way.

Strohl thinks children in the area will be at risk of more hit-and-runs until the signage is updated. 

“The signs have been that way for the 10 years I’ve been living on this property,” said Strohl.

She said she’s been trying to get the city to change the signs for years. 

She also said she was approved by the state’s Department of Transportation to install a “Disabled Child at Play” sign in the neighborhood when Joseph was 6-years-old, but now he’s 14, and that sign still hasn’t been put up. 

Strohl said if a child getting hit by a car doesn’t spark change, then what will? 

“Fix the street signs,” said Strohl. “Our neighborhood is surrounded by elementary schools.”

Strohl said she called City Hall again after the crash and was told the signs would be changed in 6-8 weeks. 

The City of Pawtucket released this statement in response to the issue: “The Pawtucket DPW takes the safety of our residents, especially our children, very seriously. We thank the residents for pointing this out and bringing it to our attention. The sign has no bearing on the accident, however, the DPW will be out there to address it as soon as possible.”