Teen hit by car near Orange Park High School

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Published: 10/25/2012 2:37 pm

Updated: 10/25/2012 11:49 pm

ORANGE PARK, Fla. -- A teen is in critical condition after being hit by a vehicle near Orange Park High School.

According to police, the 14-year-old girl was cutting through stopped cars to cross Kingsley Avenue from school when she was hit by an Acura traveling westbound.

We're told the victim, Heather Barnes, is a freshman at the high school and that she was not in the crosswalk. Police said the driver, Charles John Gibbs, 67, had a green light and will not face any charges.

Witnesses said the girl was unconscious when she was taken to the hospital. According to police, she was airlifted to Shands.

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Krystin Scott - 10/29/2012 12:32 PM

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Heather Sierra Barnes : Benefit Account # 702963769 ~ Routing # 263079276 | VyStar Credit Union P.O.Box 45085 Jacksonville FL 32232 | 904-777-6000 or 800-445-6289 Gainsville Branch (352) 372-1645 website www.vystarcu.org For those of you that would like to help.... Also Jessica Barnes has started a petition for the designation of a school zone infront of OPHS please contact her to show your support or to sign the petition.

chrisincia1 - 10/28/2012 11:17 PM

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JUST PRAY FOR JESSICA BARNES AND HER FAMILY AND FRIEND'S. PRAY THAT WE CAN GET A SCHOOL ZONE. SO THIS DOESN'T HAPPEN TO A YOUNG CHILD. I AM GOING TO DO MY BEST ON GETTING ONE THERE. WE CAN NOT POINT FINGERS @ ANYONE NOW. LETS JUST GET THIS DONE A.S.A.P.

Krystin Scott - 10/26/2012 1:30 PM

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Does it matter now that she wasn't in the cross walk? Heather is in critical condition in the trauma center at Shands. I have to agree with the second poster more needs to be done to insure the safety of the kids. The speed needs to be reduced in that area during school time, how about some flashing yellow lights maybe a cat walk or a bridge so they don't have to cross that highway at all. Clay County needs to do something about that intersection. Please pray for my niece, Heather.

imtellin - 10/26/2012 7:10 AM

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they could teach them to wait for the x signal ??? i went to 2 schools on busy roads ^ survived, then again momma taught me to look both ways several times & cross at the green,, not in between !!! go figure !!!

revwalker - 10/25/2012 5:09 PM

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I have a problem with this story sure the young lady didnt cross at the cross walk. But this could have been prevented. Why is there no signs with a posted speed limit telling drivers to reduce there speed in the school zone. Every school has a flashing yellow light to warn drivers to reduce speed to 15 to 20 mph. There is no protection for those young men and women at that intersection. I have always felt that, that strip of road in front of that school is very bad. And lacks protection for those students. Someone should look into this, this should not happen again. theres no a student can out run a car moving at 35 to 45 mph in a school zone!!!

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