Teen Hit By Car While Walking to School in New Port Richey Near Fivay High in New Port Richey

A teenager remains in the hospital in serious condition Tuesday morning after being struck by a vehicle while walking to school in New Port Richey.

According to Pasco Fire Rescue, the incident happened around 7 a.m. at the intersection of Schrader Blvd and Little Rd in New Port Richey near Fivay High School.

According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 16-year-old boy was walking across the northbound lanes of Little Road when he was hit by a Ford F150 driven by a 57-year-old man. The teen was listed as a trauma alert and transported to Bayonet Point Medical Center in Port Richey.

No further information has been released. The crash remains under investigation.

According to the National Safety Council, more children, including teens, are hit by cars near their schools than other locations. This is because many children and teens who walk or ride their bicycles underestimate the traffic dangers surrounding them. Kids and teenagers may run out into the street unexpectedly or attempt to cross against the light. Negligent drivers may also be responsible for pedestrian injuries. Many drivers fail to follow the speed limit in a school zone, some do not slow down for crossing guards, and many do not stop for school buses that have their flashing warning lights on.

Safe Kids Worldwide notes that more than 40 kids are hit by a vehicle while walking, which results in more than 15,000 injured children each year. Our Pasco County Auto Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton urge everyone to follow safe practices to prevent all child and teen pedestrian accidents, this includes children and teens, bus operators, and all motorists.

Drivers must remember that children and teens may:

• Become distracted or not paying attention when crossing the road.
• Dart into the road without looking or warning.
• Not accurately judge vehicle speed or distance.
• Be blocked from view by school buses.
• Think you will stop for them, even if you cannot see them.

If your child, or teen, is walking to or from school or bus stops, especially in heavy traffic areas, please go over important safety points with them, such as:

• Do not walk distracted. Keep your head up and phone down, so you can keep an eye on traffic at all times.
• Do not listen to music or wear headphones so that you can hear what is going on around you like screeching tires, horns, sirens, or other audible indicators an accident might occur.
• Always use crosswalks, and look left and right before crossing and continuously scan traffic while crossing.
• Do not assume every driver will stop for you when crossing the street. Make eye contact with drivers to ensure they see you and are stopping to allow you to pass.
• When sidewalks are not available, walk facing traffic, as far from the road as possible. Keep your eyes peeled for oncoming traffic and their driving behaviors as there may be indications that can keep you from getting hit.

When a pedestrian accident injures your child, the stress that comes along with it can be overwhelming. Sometimes, these accidents result in death, which can be devastating to family members. In either situation, the financial strain, combined with the emotional and physical challenges of the accident, can make it difficult for accident victims and their families to recover and get back to some sort of normalcy. The first step in understanding what to do after a pedestrian accident involving your son, daughter, niece, nephew, or other loved one, is to discuss the case with a personal injury lawyer.

When the driver of the motor vehicle is found to be liable for the accident, that person may also be responsible for paying the accident victim damages for medical expenses, lost wages and other losses. This is where our Pasco County Auto Accident Attorneys at Whittel & Melton can help you recover full and fair financial compensation from the responsible party.

In pedestrian accidents, it is almost always the person on foot who fares the worst. Pedestrians lack the same protections that drivers of cars, trucks and SUVs have. Those who were injured, or have loved ones who were involved in a pedestrian accident in New Port Richey need to speak with us as soon as possible. We can advise victims on whether or not they have a personal injury case for compensation, as well as the proper steps to take.