Man crossing children crushed by truck

In an ironic turn of events, Phillip Mitchell, more commonly known as 'Crossa Man', was mowed down yesterday by a truck in front of students as he tried to assist them to cross the road.

THE STAR understands that Mitchell, who had been working as a crossing guard for the past five years, was on the pedestrian safety island in front of Excelsior High School attempting to assist some students across the road, when tragedy struck.

One vendor stated that the driver of the truck was swerving from a vehicle when he lost control of the vehicle and hit Mitchell.

The same vendor, who did not want to be named, told THE STAR that Mitchell was a jovial person.

"He was a nice man. Him always a tell the children dem the correct way to cross the road," the vendor said.

Some teachers from the high school also described Mitchell as a concerned, fatherly person.

"Sometimes people seh him miserable, but him always tell you the proper way to cross the road. Him always cuss the drivas dem when dem drive up or neva want to stop," said one teacher.

Another told THE STAR that Mitchell took his work very seriously. She added that he was always telling the children that they should not cross the road behind him, they should always stay in front.

"To know seh him always a tell the children not to walk behind him, and him get the lick from back way just sad," she said.

Mitchell, a father of four, was said to be a hard-working individual. His son Noel said that he was shocked and saddened by yesterday's events.

"Mi father was a good man, a nice man. Me feel really bad," he said.

Attempts to ascertain from the police whether the truck driver will be charged proved futile up to press time.