CLAY COUNTY, Fla. – A 14-year-old boy is dead after a crash on a dark, unlit stretch of Sandridge Road in the Lake Asbury community, and the people who live there say the road itself needs to change.
The Florida Highway Patrol says the teen had stopped his e-bike in a westbound lane when a 16-year-old driver coming up behind him never saw him in time and struck the bike, which had no lights.
The teen was not wearing a helmet, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. Seconds later, a 17-year-old girl in an SUV rear-ended that sedan. The 14-year-old was thrown from the bike and died.
A Community in Grief
Neighbor Miranda Taylor said she was getting ready for bed when the sirens started.
“I just heard all the sirens and the police and just all the lights and everything, and it just broke my heart to hear what happened,” Taylor said.
The grief quickly spread online. One Facebook user wrote that their child came to them crying in the middle of the night, saying a close friend had tragically died. “He told me that he just needed a hug,” the post read.
Another person commented: “Seeing my son scream out for his friend and struggle to understand that he’s really gone has been one of the most gut-wrenching things I’ve ever faced as a parent. My heart aches for him. We’re praying deeply for this sweet boy’s family and friends, asking God to surround them with comfort and peace.”
News4JAX spoke with Holly Zerbe, a friend of the 14-year-old, who would always see him riding the e-bike.
“He was a great kid. He was really nice. He was funny. Good humor. Always lighted up the room. Now that he’s gone, I have to let it set in,” she said, adding that she broke down into tears when she found out that her friend had died.
Nicole Alder, a parent, said she was willing to do whatever she could to help the grieving family.
“I cried last night, even after we walked away from this, after we saw what had happened,” Alder said.
News4JAX also reached out to many of those who commented online. Most declined to speak on camera out of respect for the family.
Neighbors Demand Road Safety Changes
What nearly everyone in Lake Asbury was willing to talk about was the road — and why they believe it needs to change.
Neighbor Jozef Szwabo, who has a 14-year-old child of his own who rides along Sandridge Road, said the focus now should be on making the stretch safer.
“I think that should be the focus — fixing the safety here on Sandridge Road,” Szwabo said. “I know we put the medians in, but really, you’re reinforcing the speed limit and making the lanes a little bit brighter for the children.”
Another neighbor echoed that sentiment. “It would be nice if we had lights along the Sandridge. That would be great,” the neighbor said.
News4JAX reached out to the Clay County School Board and the Clay County Sheriff’s Office. We did not immediately receive a response.
Neighbors said a memorial is being planned at a community park near Lake Asbury to honor the teenager.