JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — First Coast News is learning more about a motorcycle crash on Argyle Forest Boulevard Tuesday evening that left a teenage girl dead.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office confirmed the victim is 17-year-old Lauren Lewis.
The crash occurred at the intersection of Spencers Trace Drive around 6:15 p.m. Investigators say a pickup truck driver pulled out in front of Lewis and hit her. The driver said he didn't see the motorcycle she was riding.
Lewis' father brought flowers to the crash site Wednesday afternoon. He declined an interview with First Coast News.
Other community members have been by the site to create a small memorial for Lewis.
"It's sad, it's absolutely sad," said Daren Jones, who lives in the neighborhood.
Jones has lived in the Argyle Forest area for 10 years and says safety on Argyle Forest Boulevard in particular has been a concern for neighbors.
"We just beg for more visibility for traffic out here," he said.
One neighbor, who asked not to be identified, heard the crash and said "It was just like a loud thud. Almost like 'Bam!' It was just an eerie silence afterward." They added that the sun had just gone down and "it was probably pretty difficult to see."
Lewis' death marks the 25th traffic fatality involving a motorcycle in Duval County this year. Deadly motorcycle crashes make up only a fraction of the overall traffic fatalities in Duval County this year; 138 people have died overall.
Police said the driver of the pickup truck stayed on scene and cooperated with investigators. The driver showed no signs of impairment, according to police. Investigators will need to determine if speeding was a factor in the crash.
Jones said it's sad a family has to deal with this tragedy right before the holidays.
"I mean it’s Thanksgiving. You know any day of the year is a bad day to have a fatality much less a traffic fatality from such a young individual," Jones said.
First Coast News reached out to Jacksonville City Councilman Rahman Johnson who represents the district where the crash happened. We are still waiting to hear back.