A tragic incident occurred on Friday night when a 15-year-old boy was struck and killed by a car while biking home from a Fletcher High School football game in Neptune Beach. News4Jax reports that the Neptune Beach Police Department has confirmed the accident took place at the intersection of Penman Road, Florida Boulevard, and Forest Avenue.
The Florida Highway Patrol, who is now leading the investigation, disclosed that the collision happened around 10:00 p.m. as the boy navigated the crosswalk on Penman Road. He was travelling east on Florida Boulevard according to details provided by First Coast News. First responders administered CPR and used an AED prior to transporting the teenager to Wolfson Children’s Hospital, where, he died from his injuries.
Neptune Beach Police Chief Michael Key Jr. sat with the family of the victim after the incident and reported, "Parents and family are simply devastated. I sat with them last night in their living room, and there’s simply no words to express the loss of a child. They ask for privacy," as told to News4Jax. Key also mentioned that another teenager was present during the crash but was unharmed.
The 34-year-old woman driving the car that hit the boy is working with authorities, yet she is not currently facing any criminal charges. "The driver has not been charged, but if there are forthcoming, pending charges, the charges will be brought forward by the Florida Highway Patrol," Key stated in a press conference, according to First Coast News. The identity of the victim has not been released, as requested by the family.
"It is something that’s very devastating to this whole community," Mayor Elaine Brown commented on the incident, as reported by News4Jax. Meanwhile, the community recalls the 2018 discussions among Neptune Beach officials about converting the complex five-point stoplight intersection where the accident occurred into a roundabout to improve safety in the area. The current status of this plan is still uncertain.
