JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — While First Coast News was on the scene where a pedestrian was hit by three cars and killed, an accident happened right in front of our reporter.
The pedestrian, Jasmine D. Allen, was killed in the 4900 block of Soutel Drive near the intersection with Clyde Drive, Monday night at about 8:40 p.m. That's right outside Inner City Christian School.
Two cars collided at the same intersection Tuesday at about 5:30 p.m. while First Coast News was there reporting on the first accident.
Jacksonville Fire & Rescue Department Captain Eric Prosswimmer says one person was taken to the hospital. Their injuries were not life-threatening.
Keva Hampton, director of Inner City said she has witnessed more than a dozen crashes there.
Clint Wingate told us he was the victim of a hit-and-run on Clyde Drive. Wingate is still recovering from that crash two weeks ago, which wrecked his bike. "They hit me and ran," he said.
Hampton says she's been working with law enforcement and city staff to get a crosswalk to the intersection, since there are no signs in the immediate area letting drivers know the school is there.
There is a crosswalk with flashing lights and a pedestrian crossing sign a few hundred feet up Soutel Drive for a senior living community, but nothing but sidewalks for the school.
The crash in front of the school makes 12 pedestrians killed in Jacksonville already in 2024, or about three per month
One city averaging zero per month is Hoboken, New Jersey, where they haven't had a single pedestrian killed in seven years.
We asked Greg Francese, a traffic planner for the city what he thinks the biggest reasons for that phenomenon are.
He says they've been building out a network of high-visibility crosswalks, bike lanes, curb extensions. Hoboken is only about 1/20 the population of Jacksonville, but Francese says a few small changes could go a long way.
"Prioritizing those areas that they know are going to draw a lot of pedestrians has been a strategy that has worked for Hoboken," he said.
Councilmember Ju'Coby Pittman, who represents this area on the city council, said she plans to take a trip to the intersection tomorrow to see it for herself and talk with the school's leadership. She also plans to check in with public works to see if any signage or crosswalks are in the works for this intersection.