JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is searching for a driver involved in a hit-and-run crash that left a pedestrian seriously injured Wednesday night.
Officers responded to a report of a crash on Beach Boulevard in front of the Walmart just west of Southside Boulevard around 11:12 p.m. A man, whose name has not been released, was found with serious injuries. He was taken to UF Health and was in surgery with life-threatening injuries.
A witness told police a white car was making a left turn onto Beach Boulevard from the Walmart and struck the pedestrian.
Jane Quick said the trek across six lanes of traffic on Beach Boulevard isn't an easy feat.
“It’s very dangerous, a lot of cars, (and) they don’t obey the signs or the speed limit,” said Quick, who crosses the busy street three to four times a week to go grocery shopping.
Quick said she recently had a close call near the intersection where the man was hit Wednesday night.
“I was down the street a little ways, and someone actually bumped my wheelchair,” Quick said.
Quick said that luckily, she wasn’t hurt, but she could understand how someone could get seriously injured trying to get to the other side of that road.
News4Jax crime and safety analyst Gil Smith said Jacksonville is one of the top three cities in the United States for hit-and-run accidents.
“The law changed about two years ago on leaving the scene of an accident with injuries,” Smith said. “You are looking at a four- to five-year prison term if you don’t stop, render assistance and contact police.”
Smith said lawmakers and city leaders are working together to come up with a plan to reduce the number of incidents. A report is expected to come out later this month with research and ideas.
“It could be anything from infrastructure changes, which means building walkways over some of the busy intersections, or just a public service announcement to make the public aware of these accidents and keep them alert,” Smith said.
Officers said a complete report on Wednesday's hit-and-run will not be available for another 24 to 48 hours.
The Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating the crash. If anyone has any information on the driver's whereabouts or the crash, call JSO at 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 866-845-TIPS.