ORANGE PARK, Fla. – A 14-year-old Orange Park High School student was rushed to Shands Jacksonville Medical Center with life-threatening injuries Thursday afternoon after she was struck by a car while crossing Kingsley Avenue.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Heather Barnes and other students were leaving Orange Park High School just before 2 p.m. when she was hit on Kingsley near the intersection with Blanding Boulevard. No other students were hurt.
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State troopers said 67-year-old Charles Gibbs was driving his car westbound on Kingsley approaching a green light at the intersection. Troopers said Barnes had crossed the eastbound lanes of Kingsley, and traffic was stopped westbound in the two left turn lanes. Barnes walked or was running in between the stopped vehicles, and she entered the path of the car that hit her, troopers said.
Barnes was first taken to Orange Park Medical Center, then flown to Shands, where she was listed in critical condition.
The intersection reopened by 5 p.m.