JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A traffic study for Baymeadows Road prompted by a crash that killed a father and his 1-year-old son has been completed, and changes are coming, City Councilman Joe Carlucci said Wednesday.
Carlucci has been pushing for safety changes in the area since the May 16 crash that claimed the lives of Bayview Elementary School math teacher Mitchell Patch and his son.
Memorials for the pair still remain near the crash site.
READ: Full traffic study from FDOT on Baymeadows Road
“The main takeaway (from the study) is that we have taken the first big step in making this area safer for pedestrians,” Carlucci said.
The Florida Department of Transportation’s evaluation of the Baymeadows Road at Goodby’s Executive Drive (across from Wicked Barley Brewing Company) has been completed, finding there have been 12 crashes at the location since 2020. Two of the crashes involved pedestrians, along with a bicyclist.
The report recommends that a Pedestrian Hybrid Beacon Crosswalk and refuge island be added in the area.
“Engineers at FDOT will be working on design and construction costs for this project,” Carlucci said in a release sent Wednesday. “There are more steps to take – but I want to reassure my constituents that these steps will be taken with urgency."
The crosswalk would stretch between the sidewalks on either side of Baymeadows Road and would have flashing lights and an island in the middle of the road.
According to FDOT, these particular crosswalks are made when roads have insufficient traffic gaps for people to safely cross the street, have speed limits higher than 35 mph or have three or more lanes.
Lane Thomas said he thought the change would be good for the community.
“I was here months ago when that happened, a man getting hit right here. I’m pretty sure it was a child also,” Thomas said.
The images below are from the report and show where the crosswalk might be placed.
Another person agreed it would make a difference.
“I definitely think it will save some lives,” Phillip McCuloum said.
Crash data revealed that between 2020 and 2025, there have been 12 crashes, with two involving pedestrians.
