CEDAR PARK, Texas — A Cedar Park pre-K teacher is on the mend after she was allegedly hit by a school bus driver.
Lizbeth Martel, better known as “Ms. Liz” to staff and students, fractured her leg and was in the hospital for days following the crash on Dec. 9, according to her colleagues at Jupiter House Preschool.
Cedar Park police said officers got a call about a woman who was hurt near a crosswalk at the intersection of East Whitestone Boulevard and Discovery Boulevard around 6:30 a.m. After investigating the incident, authorities believe the bus driver couldn’t see Martel because of her dark clothing and the “dark and rainy conditions.”
The bus driver hasn’t been charged or identified but was cited for failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian.
The school’s director of operations, Brittany Duke, said she heard of the crash that morning and was shocked since Martel would walk to and from work every day.
“I just was super upset and sad because Ms. Liz is an amazing person, and all she does is care for others,” Duke said. “Something like that happening to somebody … it wasn’t ok.”
Duke and the preschool’s assistant director Amanda Sziposc created a fundraiser through GoFundMe to help with Martel’s medical expenses. According to Duke, Martel is on a work visa from Venezuela and uses most of the money she earns to send it back to her family.
“She never misses a day of work. She doesn’t ever call in. She will come in sick if she has to,” Sziposc said. “She is eager to get back to her kids and be teaching again. We’re really hoping that families come together and the community comes together and helps support our teacher.”
Sziposc and Duke both described Martel as the glue that holds the pre-K together. Martel has been a teacher at the school for four years.
“All the kids run in the school every morning looking for Ms. Liz, and then they don’t ever want to leave the school,” Duke said.
KVUE reached out to Leander ISD, which said they fully cooperated with police, and the employee involved was immediately placed on administrative leave pending an internal investigation. However, since then, the employee has resigned.
The district also wrote, in part:
“We extend our heartfelt thoughts and support to the pedestrian involved as well as all those affected. The safety and well-being of our students, staff and community members are our top priorities, and we take this incident very seriously….. We are committed to ensuring that all necessary safety measures are reviewed and reinforced.”
Duke noted that the goal is to raise about $7,000 but said any bit of money helps.
Meanwhile, KVUE has also requested the footage of the crash from the district.