After a child was hit by a car over the weekend in Allentown, a City Council member is urging residents and drivers to be careful when driving in the city.
Council member Cynthia Mota was officiating a wedding downtown Saturday night when a 10-year-old girl was hit by a car on Sixth Street and Hamilton Boulevard, she said.
“The accident happened in front of the bride and many of the wedding guests, and it was heartbreaking and deeply emotional for everyone there,” she said Monday in a statement.
City police Assistant Chief James Gress said the incident was still under investigation. Additional information was not available Monday.
Mota, the chair of the public works committee, noted that she has been working to approve funding and support projects that make streets safer, which include updated traffic signals and other improvements.
She acknowledged that the winter was tough, and that people are excited to be outside once the weather improved. Still, she said people should do their part, adding that it is easy to get distracted.
“We have to make sure that the drivers don’t drive that fast, but at the same time, I am urging the community to be aware of their surroundings,” she said.
Crashes countywide dropped from 4,676 in 2024 to 4,471 in 2025, according to PennDOT data. Allentown had the most crashes of the Lehigh County municipalities both years at 1,647 and 1,600 for 2024 and 2025, respectively.
A city spokesperson said city officials are working to implement traffic calming measures, expanding the line-painting program and doing intersection daylighting to improve visibility for pedestrians and drivers. The city has also sought funding for traffic safety work, and received nearly $13 million.
“We’re looking at everything, trying to make the streets more safer for the community,” Mota said.
After the girl was hit by a car over the weekend, Mota said there should be speed cushions on Hamilton Boulevard, similar to the ones placed near Dieruff High School.
“That’s what I would love to see happening on Hamilton Street, because they’re going too fast,” she said.