Today at around 8:00 a.m., a car crashed on Braddock Road, blocking off the west entrance of Jefferson. The car appeared to crash into a rail, damaging its front bumper.
Jefferson’s Technology Systems manager Leo Resquin and orchestra director Allison Bailey stopped to assist the driver. Resquin first exited his vehicle when he noticed Bailey standing on the medium in the center of the road.
“My concern was for [Jefferson] students and families,” Resquin said. “[The driver] appeared to be fine, especially considering the damage to the vehicle. No Jefferson students were involved.”
After securing his own vehicle on the side of the road and putting his hazard lights on, Resquin went to check on the driver involved in the accident. At 8:11 a.m., Resquin notified Jefferson security and admin of the crash and to expect delayed student arrivals.
“Our last bus and students arrived around nine o’clock,” Resquin said.
While first responders did not redirect traffic, most teachers and students found their own ways to get to Jefferson. History teacher Dr. Scott Savran took Edsall Road, which runs parallel to Braddock Road, to drive around the school and approach from the opposite direction.
“My first concern was everybody’s safety, as well as me getting to work,” Savran said. “I came in a bit late, but I was able to start my class.”
Waves of students arrived late through Door 1, 9 and 12, missing the first 15 to 20 minutes of class.
“It was pretty inconvenient,” junior Finley Gordon said. “Now I’m late to class and missing a test.”
Students helped their bus drivers navigate a detour around the crash.
“People had to use maps on their phones,” Gordon said. “The bus drivers aren’t allowed to use their phones.”
This disruption led to many students missing time on tests, and other important things.
“I know a lot of kids that had to take the statistics test [first period],” freshman Chetana Srinivasan said. “Now they’re 20 minutes into the class period. They can’t ask questions [before the test], which sucks.”
While students and teachers were inconvenienced, Resquin hopes drivers will continue to remain safe and vigilant in light of the accident.
“[It] could have been really bad,” Resquin said. “Hopefully, people put their cell phones down when they’re driving and pay attention to the road because anything can happen in an instant.”