Food trucks cause concern near San Marcos elementary school

Food trucks have reportedly been causing unsafe traffic conditions while they sell snacks to children as they leave Joli Ann Leichtag Elementary School in the afternoon.

According to Hector Romans, the father of two daughters, the trucks park around the corner from the school between the intersections of Smilax Road and Mimosa Avenue, which are both busy, narrow streets. He said some of the truck drivers don’t park completely off the road or station themselves in posted “No parking” areas, causing traffic congestion and danger for children crossing the streets.

He mentioned that when school buses stop with flashing lights to unload students, some drivers don’t stop or go around the buses because the catering trucks the obstruct visibility of drivers of oncoming vehicles. Romans also said he and other parents have complained to authorities at the school about the problem but have had no resolution.

An office clerk at the school said she was aware of the problem the trucks were causing. She said it’s late in the spring term, so the school has no traffic-crossing volunteers to assist at the intersections around the school at the end of the day. However, she mentioned the school is trying to engage the morning traffic-crossing volunteers to help in the afternoons.