Duval County

Action News Jax Investigates: Dangerous driving in East Arlington

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — People who live off Matthew Unger Drive in East Arlington alerted Action News Jax about frustrations over reckless driving.

It’s happening near the spot where 15-year-old Raiden Kelly was killed walking to his bus stop in 2016. The teen was struck by a car.

People who live in the area said they are frustrated with speeders. Action News Jax also found skid marks in the road and deep marks in the grass near the road.

“It’s hard because you see so many people being reckless and not caring,” Erica Brown, Kelly’s mom said.

Brown still lives in the neighborhood and she feels like more needs to be done to cut down on speeding.

“Everybody is in such a rush; it’s 30 miles per hour. People’s families, people’s kids, their pets they live here,” Brown said.

Action News Jax reached out to the city of Jacksonville and learned no traffic studies have been done on Matthew Unger Drive.

Two crashes have been reported since 2018.

JSO stated no records exist for how many traffic citations were handed out over the past three years. The City did install light poles after Kelly’s death.

A city spokesperson said a public works team checked the area out themselves after Action News Jax reached out but won’t repair any damage because it’s cosmetic.

Kelly’s mother just wants people driving in the neighborhood to be more mindful.

“We don’t want to see someone else … if there is something we can do to prevent somebody else’s child from suffering the same fate,” Brown said.

JSO stated it plans on sending a patrol car out to monitor any speeders.