Montgomery County Executive Isiah Leggett, County Council President Craig Rice and Montgomery County Public Schools (MCPS) Superintendent Joshua Starr will announce the new YOLO (You Only Live Once) education program to reduce pedestrian crashes involving teens. 

The event will be held at Seneca Valley High School in Germantown where, in October 2012, 15-year-old Christina Morris-Ward was struck and killed as she distractedly crossed the street on her way to school. According to Safe Kids Worldwide, about half of students ages 15 to 19 say they use a cell phone when walking to school. 

The event will also highlight the projects conducted this past school year under the “Walk Your Way” program that encouraged teens to apply for $2,000 grants to create, design, and implement their own pedestrian safety campaign at their school. 

Also attending the event will be Board of Education Vice President Patricia O’Neill and Board of Education member Rebecca Smondrowski, MCP Traffic Division Director Captain Thomas Didone, Christina’s mother Gwendolyn Ward and Seneca Valley High School students. 

WHAT: Pedestrian Safety Press Event

WHEN: Wednesday, September 17, 2014, at 11 a.m.

WHERE: Seneca Valley High School, 19401 Crystal Rock Drive in Germantown

Media Notes: 

* B-roll can be obtained of students outside the school at 10:40 a.m. at the beginning of their open lunch session. 

* Those covering the press event must report to the main office and will be escorted to the Media Center where the media conference will be held.