BILLINGS, Mt. — Update: 6:05 p.m.
The Billings community is calling for more safety around schools after 13-year-old Chase Lantz was hit while walking to Will James Middle School Thursday morning.

The impact of the vehicle threw Lantz approximately 200 feet down the road, according to Billings Police.

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Community calls for more safety around schools after child hit by vehicle faces critical injuries

“My heart dropped. Because I’ve known Chase for a long time,” said family friend Bobbie Barsness.

She told MTN Chase is facing life-threatening injuries in a Denver hospital.

“He has a brain bleed. The spine is not connected to his skull,” said Barsness. “It’s sad that a kid fighting for his life now is what might get that intersection maybe more safe. It should have been prevented before this happened.”

Barsness is calling for more traffic safety in school areas.

“A lot of times parents and the community go to the city, and they say these problems and beg for stop signs, beg for this and that. And it just doesn’t seem like we’re being heard,” she said.

Will James Middle School and other schools could see changes soon. The city was awarded a $3.6 million grant in 2023 form the United States Department of Transportation.

The grant will be used for 19 of the city’s Safe Routes to School projects, which will add sidewalks, crosswalks, curb extenders and other traffic control in school areas. Construction on those projects is slated to begin in 2027, according to Billings Public Works.

The city has also spent $2.8 million on 37 projects to complete sidewalks in school areas, according to Billings Public Works.

“It’s a shock every time we hear about children crossing streets and getting hit,” said Billings City Council member Bill Kennedy. “That was one of the reasons why we really pushed for more dollars to go into Safe Routes to Schools.”

Kennedy and City Council member Mike Boyett say drivers can be proactive now.

“As a whole community, I think we need to refine our skills at driving and making sure we follow the rules,” said Kennedy

“Billings people just need to slow down,” said Boyett.

Barsness has started a GoFundMe for Chase Lantz’s family and recovery. As of Thursday afternoon, the fundraiser had gathered more than $12,000.

Original:
The Billings Police Department reports that a child was taken to the a local hospital with life-threatening injuries after they were hit by a vehicle near Will James Middle School.

According to police, the crash happened around 7:24 a.m. at the intersection of Grand Avenue and Rehberg Lane, where a vehicle traveling eastbound struck a child in a crosswalk.

Police say that when arriving on scene, they immediately began CPR on the child until Billings Fire and AMR arrived and took over medical care.

The BPD Crash Team also responded to the scene and began investigating the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Police say the roadways have since reopened and the incident remains under investigation.

School officials emailed families about the incident, and said that counseling support will be available for students who witnessed the accident.