The stretch of road where a high school stuent lost his life Monday in Lakeland has seen fatal pedestrian crashes in the recent past.
Traffic moves fast along Clubhouse Road near the entrance to the Summerland Hills gated community. And, it is usually dark when students gather for the bus stop just outside the sub-division.
- Kalen Kirk, 17, was running across a road to get to bus stop when he was hit
- Kirk died at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center
- Deputies say there is no crosswalk or school crossing at the intersection
Those conditions likely were a factor Monday at 6:18 a.m. when Kalen Kirk, 17, was running across the road to get to his bus stop when he was hit by a car.
A student at George Jenkins High School, Kirk died at Lakeland Regional Health Medical Center. Kirk was struck by Shirley Cross, 60, a crossing guard supervisor who was driving a marked cruiser at the time of the crash, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.
There is no crosswalk at the intersection where Kirk crossed, officials said.
A makeshift memorial was set up outside the teen's neighborhood. A vigil at the site is planned for Tuesday evening.
"People just drive by sometimes and say 'Oh, somebody lost their life and just go on with tomorrow, " said resident William Dunn. "Well there's people out here that care that do things for families...really pulling together."
Meanwhile, Polk County transportation authorities say there have not been any official complaints about the dangers of Clubhouse Road but it is likely that the county will review the stretch of road.
Kirk is the third young pedestrian to be killed along the roadway since 2014.
Also, the Polk County Schools Transportation Department is reviewing the bus stop location, according to the Ledger.
An investigation into the crash that killed Kirk is ongoing.