Elderly North Side crossing guard struck by car, in a coma

CHICAGO (WLS) -- An elderly woman is recovering after she was struck by a car while on the job as a crossing guard on the city's North Side.

Police said the 80-year-old woman was helping cross pedestrians in the 5600-block of North Clark when she was hit by a Toyota sedan making a left turn from Bryn Mawr Monday about 2:50 p.m.

Janet Gould was transported to St. Francis Hospital in Evanston in critical condition.

Police cited the 29-year-old driver for failure to yield to a pedestrian in a crosswalk.

Family members said Gould has been a crossing guard for 34 years.

Alicia Tate-Nadeau, the executive director of the Office of Emergency Management and Communications, said in a statement:

"The Office of Emergency Management and Communications is deeply saddened by the tragic accident in which our employee, Janet Gould, was very seriously injured. In her role as a crossing guard with the City of Chicago, Mrs. Gould has been dedicated to ensuring the safety of children walking to and from school every day for nearly 30 years. We extend our heartfelt wishes for her recovery and our thoughts and prayers are with Janet, her husband, family and friends at this time."

"She knows almost every child by name, and she loves my daughter. She gives my daughter, like, presents for her birthday. She is a really kindhearted person," said Shemecia Haskell, parent.

A parent of a student held the elderly woman's hand until EMS arrived.

She suffered a cut on her head and is in a coma, but suffered no broken bones.

"It's a day-by-day basis, time by time, minute by minute. We are just kind of waiting for the progress to come in," said Gould's son Roberto Cerda. "There has to be some other further investigation because there has to be something else."

Gould's family says they have tried to get her to retire; but retirement rarely, if ever, crosses her mind.

"Knowing her, when she gets well and she feels a lot better she is going to want go back to her post," said Joel Whitehead, Gould's son.