In Duval County, a concerning pattern has emerged as three students were struck by vehicles in the span of three days, urging local officials and the community to confront a serious pedestrian safety issue. According to News4Jax, the most recent incident involved a First Coast High School student who was hit on Monday near the school in a hit-and-run situation, fortunately without sustaining injuries. This case follows the tragic death of a middle school student last week and another student who was also struck by a car.
Responding to this disturbing trend, District 3 School Board Member Cindy Pearson has stated there's a "culture problem" in Duval County that contributes to these incidents. "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," Pearson told News4Jax. She's advocating for higher vigilance from drivers in pedestrian zones and is working with city officials and law enforcement to tighten safety measures.
As confirmed by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, the series of accidents has raised alarm bells, particularly with school having recently resumed. Jax Today reported that Darryl Willie, a School Board member whose district includes First Coast, indicated the school's resource officer was first to respond to Monday’s incident. The student there had followed proper crossing protocol, pressing the pedestrian crossing button and using the crosswalk, when they were struck by a non-compliant driver.
Pearson's demands for action reflect a heightened sense of urgency within the community, as chronicled by Action News Jax. The sentiment of "Do Better, Duval" encapsulates the community's plea for revision and reinforcement of traffic and pedestrian safety measures.
