ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A 16-year-old boy crossing Anastasia Boulevard on a skateboard Thursday morning was hit by an SUV and killed, according to St. Augustine police.
The victim, Ja Williams, was a student at St. Augustine High School. He was taken to Flagler Hospital with critical injuries and later died, police said.
The crash happened about 8:30 a.m. on Anastasia Boulevard at Menendez Road, near the Conch House Restaurant and not far from the Lighthouse.
Police said it appears Williams did not see the white SUV that struck him as he was crossing the four lanes of Anastasia Boulevard.
The driver of the SUV told police he did not see Williams until the teen was right in front of his vehicle. Speed is not a factor in the crash, police said.
"They loaded him up and took him to the hospital. I was hoping for the best, but now I'm hearing what happened to him," said John Briggs, who witnessed the accident.
Williams (pictured left in family photo) recently got his driver's license and was living with his brother not far from where the accident happened, his uncle told News4Jax.
The driver stopped and is cooperating with traffic homicide investigators.
Police said eastbound traffic on Anastasia, which is also A1A, was detoured behind the Kangaroo store while the accident was investigated.
This isn't the first time that someone has been hit and killed in the area of Anastasia Boulevard. In 2012, bicyclist Christian Schroom was killed in a hit-and-run crash less then a half-mile from Thursday's accident scene.
"I just hope the city of St. Augustine realizes the impact of all these people on skateboards, bicycles, pedestrians. It's a tourist town. I just hope they take something out of this," said Sue Noble, who lives nearby.
Students react to classmate's death
Williams' friends said he was on his way to school when he was hit by the SUV.
His St. Augustine High classmates said the atmosphere at school Thursday was surreal. After the bell rang to release classes, word spread about Williams' death.
“He was respectful and loyal, a good kid around little kids,” said Randall Laughin, Williams' friend and skate buddy. “He was a really good kid, skateboarded and surfed a lot.”
Several students said Williams, a sophomore, wasn't so quiet once you got to know him.
St. Augustine High Principal Dr. DeArmas Graham released a statement to News4Jax after Williams' death:
On March 31, 2016, one of our students was struck by a motor vehicle. Paramedics were called to the scene and the student was transported to Flagler Hospital and passed. The sudden death has made a major impact on our entire school community. Any student who appears to need assistance from the St. Johns Crisis Team staff will be sent to the Listening Lab/Media Center.