DUVAL COUNTY, Fla. – Three students in Duval County were struck by cars in just three school days, with one of the students dying from their injuries.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office confirms the most recent accident happened near First Coast High School Monday morning. The agency said it responded to a hit-and-run crash involving a teen, but no injuries were reported.
The incidents have prompted urgent calls for action from school officials and community leaders, with District 3 School Board Member Cindy Pearson saying she has already begun taking steps to prevent further tragedies.
Some of those steps include advocating for drivers to pay close attention to marked pedestrian zones, asking city councilmembers to install “no parking” signs in certain locations, and requesting that Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier work with JSO to monitor and ticket drivers who drive through flashing pedestrian crosswalks.
“We need to do better in terms of crossing at crosswalks, and also better in terms of protecting pedestrians who are in crosswalks by stopping and letting them cross safely,” she said.
Pearson added that she has also been in contact with school board members from other parts of Florida and found that Duval County is facing a “culture problem.”
Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier also addressed the community after two of the incidents, one of which was fatal. He encouraged families to talk with their children about pedestrian safety and urged drivers to be especially attentive in school zones.
Last year, the district reported 42 incidents involving students as pedestrians, bicyclists, or passengers in cars. The district continues to promote its “Be Safe, Be Seen” safety initiative.
“We want that number to go down. We had three fatalities. And anytime you lose a student, especially in a tragic area like that, you just—it’s just a loss that cannot be measured,” Dr. Bernier said.
The district launched “Be Safe. Be Seen.” not long after a third student died after being hit by a vehicle last school year. That third student was Alondra Martinez, an Atlantic Coast High School student who passed away after being hit by a car near her bus stop back in January. News4JAX contacted her sister Alejandra Martinez to check in with her family. She was unavailable for an interview but she did share a statement that says in part:
“My family is healing day by day. Some days are harder than others, and while there are moments of peace, we often find ourselves wishing we could turn back time and change what happened.
We visit her grave often. We share her story on social media and never hesitate to talk about her whenever someone asks. We always speak about the dangers of crossing at bus stops in low light. Some of us have even gotten tattoos in her memory. She’ll always be a part of our lives.
What I can’t understand is how this is still a recurring issue especially during the first week of school. It’s heartbreaking and frustrating. I truly hope DCPS and FDOT take action soon, because families shouldn’t have to live in constant fear that their child may not make it home.
I want the school district to raise more awareness around this issue. It’s affected far too many families, more than it ever should have. Just yesterday marked seven months since my sister passed, and I know she would be heartbroken that nothing has changed. To the city: Please install more signage, station more officers near school zones, add better lighting at crosswalks, make students more visible, and hold drivers accountable. These are basic measures that could save lives.
As a driver myself, I urge everyone behind the wheel to please be more aware. Put your phones down. Pay attention to the road. Respect school zone speed limits, especially during the critical hours of 5–9 a.m. and 2–5 p.m. Some kids don’t have the same protections others do. And yet, to this day, I still see cars speeding through the same area where my sister’s accident happened. To parents: if you’re able to, please take your children to school. It’s safer that way. And if you can’t, at least try to wake up a little earlier and help them cross to the safer side of the bus stop. Even a small change can make a big difference."
Alejandra Martinez, sister of Alondra Martinez
Parents are encouraged to reach out to their district board members with any concerns about dangerous traffic areas.
“It is difficult for us to be everywhere at one time, and parents and others who are connected to a school are going to be the ones who are seeing this happen on a daily basis, and please let us know,” Pearson said.
While students are being taught how to make safe choices on their way to and from school, Dr. Bernier asks drivers to be prepared and alert as they approach areas with children.
“The best way I know how to be prepared is to be less distracted. Radios down, phones down, make sure that you’re paying attention to our kids,” he said.
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office has been asked for incident reports related to the three students struck last week. Updates will be provided as more information becomes available.
A community member has started a GoFundMe for the middle school student who was killed last week, which can be found here.
