JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville mom is calling for change in a Northside neighborhood near where a young teenager was hit while trying to cross an intersection.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said the teen died on Thursday afternoon after being hit by a pickup truck while walking across a street on Jacksonville’s Northside.
Police said the crash occurred just before 4 p.m. on Biscayne Boulevard near March Hen Drive when a Toyota pickup truck, which was headed northbound on the roadway, hit the teen.
A mom whose daughter goes to a school less than a mile away said she has been fighting to get a crossing guard or pedestrian lights in front of her daughter’s school, Somerset Academy, which sits on Dunn Avenue.
“I don’t want this to happen again. I really don’t, because no, parent should have to bury their child,” she said. “We do need more crossing guards here in our area on the Northside, especially when you have a school that holds 600 kids. We do need more people to direct the traffic.”
FDOT said Biscayne Boulevard is not a state-maintained roadway and told News4JAX to reach out to the City of Jacksonville, but a spokesperson said Dunn Avenue is State Road 104.
“FDOT routinely studies and evaluates all state-maintained roadways to improve safety for all roadway users including motorists, pedestrians and cyclists. Safety on the roadway is comprehensive and includes education, enforcement and engineering roadways to ensure roadways are as safe as possible,” FDOT said.
As far as the crossing guard, News4JAX asked Duval County Public Schools, and a spokesperson said Somerset Academy is a charter school and is not managed by the district.
“You will have to reach out to Somerset Academy directly or to their governing body,” DCPS said.
The spokesperson said JSO manages crossing guards, so News4JAX reached out to the school and JSO. We are waiting for a response from both.
Jacksonville City Council Member Reggie Gaffney Jr., who represents the area, issued a statement about the deadly collision and said there have already been steps taken to improve safety on Biscayne Boulevard.
“The tragedy that occurred yesterday is truly heartbreaking. My deepest condolences go out to the family, and I ask that we all keep them in our thoughts and prayers. Out of respect for their privacy during this difficult time, I will keep my remarks brief,” Gaffney wrote in a statement. “While it’s unfortunate that this conversation is sparked by such a loss, I appreciate the urgency it brings to the need for traffic calming measures in District 8. Every community has the opportunity to request additional traffic safety improvements through the School Board, through State Legislators for state roads, and through my office for city roads (904-255-5208). On Biscayne, we have already taken steps to improve safety, but there is always more we can do. I have spoken with our Traffic Engineering team and JSO to identify additional measures that could prevent tragedies like this from happening again. Regarding Somerset, although this road falls under the responsibility of our State Representatives, I successfully worked to have a traffic light installed at the end of last year, an investment of millions of dollars. Somerset is a charter school, and unfortunately, securing a crossing guard is not the responsibility of DCPS but of the school itself. I have worked closely with the principal on these issues and will continue to do so to support the safety of students and families. The safety of our children and residents will always be one of my highest priorities, and I remain committed to working with our community, law enforcement, and city and state partners to create safer streets for everyone.”
