JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Parents of a First Coast High School freshman who was hit by a pickup truck Friday morning told News4Jax their son has a broken leg and is expected to recover.
The student, who investigators said was walking, was hit just before 7 a.m. on Duval Station Road, not far from the school.
Several students and parents on social media said the road is dangerous and busy with traffic. Priscilla Allen, the injured student's mother, says the area has always concerned her.
"A lot of times the cars can’t see the kids or the kids can’t see the cars until it’s too late because of how dark it is before 7 a.m.," Allen said. "It’s a lot of traffic and is very dangerous for the students."
According to Allen, the driver that investigators said struck her child stopped and cooperated with police. She's thankful her son will recover, however, she wants to see safety measures added to the street.
Sebastian Ageilia, a senior at Atlantic Coast High School, would also like to see some changes.
"Definitely a stop sign or something that can slow them down," Ageilia said.
The city of Jacksonville said it will work with the school to connect the sidewalks and mark pedestrian crossings. The chief of traffic engineering for the city sent News4Jax the following statement, which reads, in part:
City Traffic Engineering has assigned our consultant with the task of studying pedestrian movements around FCHS. We expect a completed report within the next few weeks. Preliminary results show justification for installing marked pedestrian crossings on Duval Station Rd. at Bradley Cove Rd. and at the Shopping Center entrance. We will work with the school to connect sidewalks. The on-going study will also look at existing speed limits and pedestrian movements on Starratt Rd."