Deadly car crash involving a pedestrian in Jacksonville

A busy local intersection is back open after a deadly car crash involving a pedestrian.

The crash shut down University Boulevard at Barnes Road around 5 a.m. Friday.

There are crosswalks on University Boulevard located at the traffic intersections, but throughout the morning Action News Jax watched as nearly half a dozen people jaywalked across the street.

Jeremy Lee said he has to dodge traffic when he crosses University Boulevard to catch his bus to get to work.

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“I mean, it’s basically like a highway, you know, cars come up and down, flying back and forth, it’s a highway,” said Lee.

Lee has lived here for four years and says the cars go too fast.

“There is no slow down that’s just how it is around here,” he said.

In August, Action News Jax told you University Boulevard is one of seven areas that Jacksonville Sheriff's Office highlighted as part of its high visibility enforcement campaign.

It was recognized as one of the most dangerous areas in Jacksonville based on crash data.  University Boulevard claimed the lives of at least three people in 2018, including 11-year-old Terry Bryant this summer.

Angel Romero said with the number of crashes on University Boulevard he doesn’t take any chances and always uses the crosswalk.

“Because I try not to get hurt or anything like that because I know some people aren’t fast enough to break and stop and sometimes the timing can be off when you’re crossing the street,” said Romero.

The Florida Department of Transportation spent $1 million as part of a grant in April to help increase pedestrian safety in the area.

Cox Media Group