Walk to School Day promotes student safety

27 students hit by cars in Volusia County last school year

ORANGE CITY, Fla. – Several Central Florida schools participated Wednesday in Walk to School Day, an initiative promoting student safety and reminding drivers to be aware of children.

In Volusia County last school year, 27 students were struck by cars on the way to or from school, with two of them being fatally injured.

Ten of the crashes occurred in Orange City, so the school district added a new school zone at U.S. Highway 17-92 at Rhode Island Avenue, where there's a 20 mph speed limit, signs and flashing lights.

Orange City Elementary School Principal Carrie Crkvenac said the Walk to School Day was a success.

"We did not expect the turnout that we got," said Crkvenac. "We feel like we had more than 150 kids today."

In Volusia County, students are reminded daily during announcements about using crosswalks and being safe on their route to and from school.

This school year, five students were stuck in Volusia in the first two weeks of school.

"It is scary as a parent," said parent Gina Money. "The kids are being dropped at intersections and thing and I just think that that's really dangerous for the children."

On Tuesday, a Brevard County student suffered a broken leg when he was hit by a SUV shortly after exiting his school bus.

Watch Local 6 News for more on this story.


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