ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – Anastasia Boulevard is usually a busy road full of cars and pedestrians but it was shut down Thursday morning after police say a 16-year-old boy on a skateboard was hit by an SUV and killed.
The victim, Ja Williams, was a student at St. Augustine High School. He was taken to Flagler Hospital with critical injuries and later died, according to the St. Augustine Police Department.
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The accident happened about 8:30 a.m. on Anastasia Boulevard at Menendez Road, near the Conch House Restaurant and not far from the Lighthouse.
The victim's uncle told News4Jax that the 16-year-old's older brother called the stretch of road a "death trap" because of the dangers it poses for pedestrians.
Many people who live in the area also expressed concerns to News4Jax about 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.
Michael Crivello has lived in St. Augustine for a few years after moving up from Miami. He said he rides his bike most of the time, but it's always risky along Anastasia Boulevard.
READ: FDOT pedestrian safety study on Anastasia Boulevard
"Any of them that are going too fast, I have to be aware that they are going to out-run me or cause a problem for me crossing the highway. I use all of the pedestrian gates and everything, but sometimes it's still not enough," Crivello said. "All it is is one or two seconds less. Just slow down in your course. We will be much safer."
The speed limit in the area is 40 mph, but coming off the Bridge of Lions, it’s 30.
"The speed limit should be slower. People should slow down and take caution at all times. This area is populated with people that live here plus tourists and all the hotels. People are around trying to enjoy themselves," said John Briggs, who saw the aftermath of the accident.
Another complaint was the lack of crosswalks, specifically in the area where the teen was hit and killed.
News4Jax made the 1.2-mile drive from the Bridge of Lions all the way to R. B. Hunt Elementary School. The only crosswalks were at one intersection with a marked crosswalk on each side going across Anastasia Boulevard.
"We have to have crosswalks and everything to make it safer for people," said Sue Noble, who lives in the area of the crash. "I just hope the city of St. Augustine realizes the impact of all of these people on skateboards, bicycles, pedestrians. It's a tourist town and I just hope that they take something out of this."
A recent study by the Florida Department of Transportation found that more research was needed about pedestrian crosswalks going across Anastasia Boulevard. On the day officials conducted the study about crosswalks on that stretch of road, there weren’t many pedestrians in the area.
A pedestrian road safety audit published in February 2015 showed multiple intersections needed improvements, including Anastasia Boulevard and Matanzas Road, which is two blocks from Thursday's deadly crash. The report said the intersection had “no detectable warning signs” and “lines are faded and worn.” The report also said the pedestrian signals at the intersection were outdated with no pedestrian countdown displays.
One block closer to Thursday's crash is the intersection of Anastasia Boulevard and Moultrie Place. The report points out that at that intersection “stop lines are faded and that an elevated water valve located in the crosswalk poses a threat to pedestrians.”
St. Augustine Mayor Nancy Shavor said Thursday that she has not seen results from the most recent FDOT study yet, but from the initial study, the recommended short-term improvements like crosswalks along the road have all been completed.
Since the 2015 study was published, more visible lines have been drawn and pedestrian walk buttons have been replaced, but the report showed FDOT had a long way to go to make students like St. Augustine High School's Abigail Martin-Lawrence feel safe as they walk to school along the busy road.
“There's no sidewalks where I walk at first, and then there are just cars driving by really fast,” Martin-Lawrence said. “It's just kind of scary.”
Crivello said he will continue to ride his bike, watching out for drivers and hoping they are watching out for him.
"They are either trying to go to work or just in a hurry. I suggest (they) slow down. You are going to ruin someone else's world if you don't slow down,” Crivello said.
A Florida Department of Transportation spokesman said that the department is looking into what further improvements need to be made.