ORANGE PARK, Fla. — Clay County leaders will look at possible safety improvements along Oakleaf Plantation Parkway after two teens died in a fatal crash Friday night.
Florida Highway Patrol reported that a 17-year-old female driver and 18-year-old male passenger were killed after their car hit a tree, flipped and partially submerged in a retention pond.
“It’s very sad," said Donna Fong, who lives near the crash site. "I feel really bad for the parents.”
Fong’s dog walking path on Oakleaf Plantation Parkway took her right past the car crash scene, where skid marks and debris were still visible.
The crash report from FHP does not say any other vehicle was involved and doesn’t list a cause for the crash.
Fong says the bend by the retention pond has been on her radar for a while – she hears cars flying by, especially at night.
“I think more streetlights, absolutely," said Fong. "If you’re walking out here at night and you don’t have a headlamp or flashlight, you’re in pitch black.”
Clay County Commissioner Jim Renninger says he already has a few dangerous roads in Clay County on his radar where the commission is looking at safety solutions.
This road adds another one to the list.
“We are trying to look at these things seriously and see if we can take a look at anything possible that we can implement to mitigate these horrible crashes," said Renninger.
Renninger says he’s going to bring up this crash at the commission meeting on Tuesday to see if there’s anything they can do to make this bend safer for drivers.