‘They don’t pay attention:’ Middleburg mom calls for safer intersection after daughter hit by car

CLAY, FLa. — A Middleburg mom is calling for change at an intersection after her 12-year-old daughter was hit by a car while crossing on her bicycle.

She was crossing Tynes Boulevard at Pine Ridge Parkway. Luckily she survived and her mom said she is ok now, but she knows it could have been a lot worse.

“She did look both ways. She stopped at the stop sign,” Lindsey Wolff said.

However, sometimes that isn’t enough.

“She had scrapes all over her elbow, her knees, her thighs. The inside of her thighs were bleeding,” Wolff said.

Wolff said her daughter hit her head on the ground as well. Her bike’s back tire is now folded over from the crash. Wolff said the intersection won’t get better until someone does something. She isn’t the only one who has noticed.

“There are a lot of drivers around here that don’t do the speed and they don’t pay attention,” neighbor Patti Glocke said.

Neighbors said the intersection is a nightmare.

“Not only do we have Tynes Elementary here, but we also have Clay Charter in the back, and this is the only inlet and outlet to the Clay Charter School,” neighbor Jeanine Thomas said.

Thomas said the kids are practically fending for themselves out there on the busy road, and there is no crossing guard during school hours.

That’s why she started this online petition calling attention to the problem.

Wolff lists proposed solutions like a second crosswalk, a four-way stop, a flashing traffic sign, or even a traffic light. She also said it’s been an uphill battle trying to get something done.

In the last five years, the Clay County Sheriff’s Office has been plenty busy right at this intersection. Action News Jax discovered there have been dozens of calls for service to this intersection since 2017- including traffic stops, several reckless drivers, and at least one other accident.

Wolff is working day and night to bring attention to the problem so no other parent receives the phone call she did.

“My daughter is not the first one that has been hit in this intersection. She definitely won’t be the last until something happens,” Wolff said.

Action News Jax reached out to the county and the sheriff’s office about Wolff’s concerns with the lack of crossing guards and the intersection’s makeup.

We have not heard back from either agency.

Wolff noted her daughter was not crossing at the designated crosswalk when she was hit.

Clay County officials responded to our request for comment with this statement:

“All traffic incidents in Clay County are investigated by law enforcement and any safety concerns at a location are then relayed to the county for review. This specific incident on February 23 has not been directly reported to the county”.

Responders at the scene stated the girl had minor injuries and was ambulatory. CCFR did not transport her to the hospital. Any person can report traffic concerns to TrafficSafetyTeam@dot.state.fl.us for review during the quarterly FDOT safety meetings”.

County engineers are in discussions with CCSO, and Clay County District Schools leaders to determine what measures could be taken in the vicinity of Tynes Elementary School.

The County Engineering Department is reviewing the accident history at the intersection of Tynes Blvd and Pine Ridge Parkway. Reports indicate that there have been a total of two vehicle vs. pedestrian accidents since the intersection opened 7 years ago.

In reference to the requests:

1. Second crosswalk parallel to the existing one crossing Tynes Blvd- adding a second crosswalk can be a hazard because it may confuse drivers as to where they should reasonably expect where pedestrians may cross in an uncontrolled intersection. Installing a second crosswalk at that intersection would require a 4-way stop or traffic signal.
2. Traffic light - A signal warrant study is being conducted to determine if a traffic signal is needed at that intersection. Traffic signals can’t be installed without an engineering study that determines they are warranted. Traffic flow and the number of accidents are some of the inputs used to make the determination.
3. Flashing traffic light for school hours with the 15mph signposted like the one by Tynes Elementary School or extending it from Tynes further down past Pine Ridge Pkwy
4. Clay County, Clay District Schools, CCSO, and Clay County District School Police are in discussions about possible changes to the intersection and school zone in this location. Options such as adding additional signage or pavement markings or moving the flashing beacon to extend the school zone are being considered.
5. The county staff has been working with the leadership at the Clay Charter Academy to develop a safety improvement plan. County Engineers have designed a school zone crossing and that plan was recently approved by the charter academy. The safety items needed will be ordered but are not currently available to be installed. Once the materials are received, they will be installed by the county. The school zone improvements will include standard reflectorized striping and signage with a flashing beacon during school zone hours. A flashing pedestrian-activated beacon for the crosswalk will also be considered.
6. 4-way stop instead of the existing 2-way stop- A stop sign warrant and traffic count study are being conducted at that intersection to determine if a stop sign is needed. Stop signs can’t be installed without an engineering study that determines they are warranted. Traffic flow and the number of accidents are some of the inputs used to make the determination.
7. Crossing guard- Please contact Clay County Sheriff’s Office
8. Speed bumps – the traffic study would also determine if speed humps are needed at this location

The Clay County Sheriff’s Office gave us this statement:

“The Clay County Sheriff’s Office is committed to ensuring the safety of our students whether driving, walking, or biking to our schools. School zones have been prominently marked and are among our busiest areas during school hours. School zone speed limits are typically 15 or 20 miles per hour, depending on the location, and enforcement activity is conducted by the CCSO and the CCDSPD during the peak hours and throughout the school day. We share the community’s concern over the child that was struck by a vehicle. This unfortunate accident occurred outside of regular school hours, and outside of a formal school zone, so it, therefore, was not staffed with a crossing guard. However, we are committed to studying patterns, series, and trends and making necessary adjustments to keep our community safe, and we will continue to monitor traffic in the area. Motorists operating in school zones are reminded to follow posted speed limits and to proceed with caution when traveling near our schools when children are present. We will also be rotating message boards through the area to remind drivers to follow traffic laws.”

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