Saratoga News

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Car rams fence at nursery school but driver of Corvette unknown

By Michele Tjin

Three weeks after a red sports car narrowly missed running into a preschool in Saratoga, families affiliated with the school are still waiting for the car's driver to step forward and fess up.

According to a neighbor who heard the accident, a red Corvette going south on Saratoga-Sunnyvale Road missed the left turn on Williams Avenue in the early morning hours on June 24 and instead found the wooden fence in front of Saratoga Parent Nursery School. The school is at the corner of Saratoga-Sunnyvale and Williams, and the car hit a fire hydrant, took out 15 feet of the school's fence, ran into the wheelchair access ramp and clipped a tree. After coming to a stop, the car's occupants were seen pushing the car free and heading down Williams.

Several weeks later, the metal of the ramp remains bent at awkward angles and wrapped in a white tablecloth for the children's safety, as classes continue for summer school.

"It's amazing no one was injured," said Laurel Balyeat, president of the nursery school.

As bad as the accident was, Balyeat said she's grateful the damage isn't more extensive. The school was closed at the time, and a small memorial garden in front of the school was spared from damage. In addition, while the rain gutter was crushed a bit, it seemed that the car stopped just inches short of the school building.

"It could have been worse," Balyeat said.

Parents have been concerned. The car's front quarter panel, three or four headlights and other car pieces were strewn in front of the school, Balyeat said.

School families have been in contact with the Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department, but so far the investigators don't have too many answers for them. Without any license plate information, they don't have much to go on.

"It's pretty much a dead end," said deputy Kim Morgenthaler. "Hit and runs are so frustrating. There's not much we can do."

The school president said parents just want to know who was behind the damages so the driver can be held accountable. The parents are energized and want to do something to remedy the situation, but Balyeat said they're not quite sure what to do. They have considered putting up reward posters.

"I wish somebody would say, 'We're sorry,' and come help and pay for [the damages]," she said.