Community Shows Support for Eleven-Year-Old Severely Injured in Pedestrian Crash in Destin, Florida
DESTIN, FL- The nwfdailynews.com writes that an eleven-year-old boy suffered serious injuries in a pedestrian crash this week.*
A driver struck the boy at the intersection of Main Street and Kelly Street in Destin. The boy was riding his bike at the time of the crash. More than 400 people attended a prayer vigil held at the Dalton Threadgill Little League Park to show their support for the boy. Following the crash, responders rushed the child to the Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola via airlift. Billboards offering support to the family are posted on roads in Destin, Fort Walton Beach, and Crestview. About 400 students showed their support at a prayer service at the middle school. Teachers are stating that their students are struggling to cope with the tragic accident.
Florida is one of the worst states when it comes to cycling crashes. Of course, The Sunshine State’s weather likely contributes to the fact that people are able to bike more often and throughout most of the year. With more cyclists on the road, there is a greater risk for more crashes. However, weather alone is not enough to explain why Florida continues to have some of the most dangerous roads in the nation. In fact, Florida is one of very few states across the country where the number of fatal crashes increased in 2019.
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration found that overall, the rate of deadly crashes declined by 1.2 percent last year. Although the decline is small, the number of traffic deaths dropped even as mileage throughout the United States increased. The number of fatalities per miles traveled was the second-lowest that the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has ever recorded. Sadly, the southeastern states, including Florida, experienced a two percent increase in fatal crashes last year. It is not yet clear why crash-related deaths continue to increase in Florida even as they drop elsewhere throughout the United States.
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Sources:
https://www.nwfdailynews.com/story/news/2020/10/21/destin-florida-rallies-around-11-year-old-injured-crash/6004417002/
https://www.orlandoweekly.com/Blogs/archives/2018/09/26/florida-is-the-most-dangerous-state-to-ride-a-bike-says-report
https://www.ttnews.com/articles/fatalities-crashes-involving-trucks-increased-2019-nhtsa-estimates