MIDDLEBURG, Fla. – Middleburg residents are expressing their concerns about the safety of County Road 218 after troopers say a man was struck by a vehicle and killed while putting out yard sale signs along the road Saturday.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, George Maxwell Point III, 74, was trying to cross CR-218 near Warrior Drive about 7 a.m. Saturday when he was hit by a Toyota Camry.
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Neighbors said CR-218 is dangerous. Just four miles down the road from Saturday's accident, Locke Gaddis, 12, was hit and killed while crossing to the road to get to a friend's house last November.
The boy's mother, Donna Gaddis, said action needs to be taken to make the road safer.
"I think that we need a crosswalk, immediately. I don't understand why we don't have one or, like I said, a flashing light needs to be on, something to help pedestrians and drivers just to know to slow down," Gaddis said.
Since her son's death, Gaddis said she's been begging Clay County to put in a crosswalk.
"It's just sad. I feel extremely sorry for the family because if something had been done earlier, like right after it happened to Locke or before it happened, maybe this family wouldn't be in the same position we're in," Gaddis said. "Maybe people would be more cautious and slow down."
Frequently, Gaddis said, there are wrecks on CR-218 because people aren't obeying the laws or paying attention to their surrounding.
"Please slow down. Please slow down, whether, regardless, if you see somebody or not, because you just don't know. He may have never saw that man or my son or anybody. But you have to be aware. If you're not, it continues to happen, Gaddis said.
No matter the cause, Gaddis said she believes crosswalks and lowering the speed limit would help reduce these tragedies from happening.
Troopers continue to investigate and have not yet said whether the 19-year-old driver of the Camry will face charges.