It’s been a disturbingly busy Wednesday morning for police and rescue authorities in Flagler County.
A first-grader and a kindergartner were hurt when an SUV pulling a trailer struck them at their F-Section bus stop at 8:16 a.m. Almost at the same time, a Palm Coast woman driving an SUV north on U.S. 1, near Seminole Woods, flipped and crashed in the southbound lanes, and was ejected. She was taken to Halifax hospital’s trauma unit in Daytona Beach.
The collision involving the two children took place at the bus stop at Frontier Drive and Fountain Gate Lane as the two boys were waiting for their school bus to Old Kings Elementary.
“A vehicle with a trailer turned the corner there, and knocked the two kids over,” Mike Judd, the school district’s senior director of facilities, who oversees the transportation department, said. One of the students was treated and released to his parents at the scene, Judd said. The other was transported by ground to Florida Hospital Flagler with non-serious injuries.
The SUV kept going after the collision.
A Flagler County Sheriff’s official said the trailer-pulling SUV was quickly stopped, and the driver said he was unaware of what had happened at the bus stop.
In the U.S.1 wreck, Danielle Bazard, 50, was driving a Toyota 4 Runner SR5 north at 8:18 or so when she lost control–for unknown reasons–swerved into the grassy, dewy median, and flipped. Bazard was ejected, and was momentarily lying, immobile, on the pavement. But when paramedics arrived she was conscious, though suffering from various injuries, including to the head.
The wreck took place about 50 yards south of the Mobil station at the intersection with County Road 304. It closed the southbound lanes to traffic from 8:20 to 9:15 a.m. The Palm Coast Fire Police controlled traffic. Flagler County Fire Rescue and the Bunnell Fire Department responded, as did the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office and the Florida Highway Patrol. FHP is in charge of the investigation, which is ongoing. Roger’s Towing towed the wreckage.
As of 9:15, all roads were back to normal.
The F-Section incident was the second hit-and-run incident in Palm Coast in three days. Monday morning, bicyclist Terrance Conley was seriously injured when he was struck by 19-year-old Marquis Norwood’s Dodge. Norwood was later found at Daytona State College, where he was attending a class.
Later today at the Flagler County Courthouse, Jamesine Fischer, the wife of school board member John Fischer, is scheduled to be sentenced for the 2011 hit-and-run incident that led to the death of Francoise Pecqueur on Palm Coast’s Columbia Lane. Fischer pleaded guilty to the hit-and-run with a death charge the last day of February. She will serve at least 21 months in prison, or a maximum of 36 months. Judge J. David Walsh is conducting the sentencing at 1:30 p.m.
Magnolia says
SUV was probably a landscaper. They drive too fast in the mornings here. This driver needs to be charged for leaving the scene, whether he knew or not.
SLOW DOWN and drive more carefully, especially when you KNOW that there are children and early walkers.
just saying II says
So now it’s not deputies, its landscapers that drive to fast? The people in this county are ridiculous.
jonathan says
that bus stop was my stop and i nearly got ran over also.THANK GOD
confidential says
Drivers pay attention and slow down and give the right of way to bikers, cyclist and pedestrians. I always do it and gives me a rewarding feeling of respecting my fellow human beings lives and their smiles/waving of appreciation have no price, while making my day happier.
Deep South says
I think anybody hauling a trailer should drive at least 10 to 15 miles slower than the posted speed limit. I don’t know how many times I have been doing the speed limit, and have one lawn cu tter trucks with a trailer right by speed me.
Meme says
That is the whole problem here confidential……………………….. NOBODY pays attention to their surroundings. It’s not even that they’re going too fast because people pull out in front of me ALL the time on Old Kings Rd where I’m doing the 50 mph speed limit and they pull right out doing 10 when there’s nobody behind me…….or by Wal-mart where they pull out making a right on red when Palm Coast parkway has the right of way and they make people slam on their brakes ……………..it’s sickening…………….Palm Coast has more care accidents then anywhere else because people think they’re the only ones on the road. Why wouldn’t that driver look behind him to make sure those kids were still safe?????? or the driver that hit the cyclist on 100……………I just don’t get where people’s minds are when they’re driving.
fla native says
Be careful folks. The life you save may be your own. I’m happy these children weren’t hurt worse. Let’s all slow down. Thank you Flagler Live for your prompt coverage of this and all accidents in the area.
Mr. T says
That’s right…BLAME the Landscaper. Perhaps the little darlings were player to close to the road. Were where their parents ? Maybe it was a painters trailer or a screen enclosure trailer. Maybe even a city work truck & trailer. And let me just STOP driving on the roads because we don’t want the bicycle spandex people and the morning joggers and all the other “non working ” people to be interrupted.
Anonymous says
The kids where not playing they where there with there parents and it was a landscaping company for your information and yes the guy fled and did not stop thanks to another parent that took down the plate and called the cops. he was then caught.
mytwosends says
Those bicycle spandex people and morning joggers are probably retired, and the reason why you have a job cutting grass, or painting or fixing screen enclosures.
mymiddlefinger says
Hi there mytwosends, tell me what is wrong with cutting grass? I am a college educated law abiding citizen that prefers to work for myself and be my own boss working when and where I want to, so tell me what is so wrong with maintaining lawns. Oh one more thing, I am also one of those bike riding individuals as well.
Magnolia says
The little darlings were waiting for the school bus, Mr. T. In case you haven’t noticed, we HAVE NO SIDEWALKS here, so where would you suggest they wait?
We all live here, Mr. T. Can we just try to get along?
Reality Check says
@ Mr. T, No matter what you say the pedestrian has the right of way, you need to see a therapist and figure out why you are so unhappy. Why is a person jogging, or riding their bike in the early morning non-working? is exercise a crime now? people work out before and after work.
Anonymous says
I have been a resident of Palm Coast for over 22 years and it seems as though in the past 2 years there has been a total lack of regard for pedestrians and bicyclists alike. I can not imagaine that getting from point A to Point B is that important that there are that many drivers willing to be careless and risk another persons life! That being said; I’ve wondered if the increase in red light cameras has resulted in less traffic enforcement. Just something to think about…My prayers go out to all those involved in these unfortunate and unecessary “crashes”. I pray the victims recover from their injuries, I further pray that the careless drivers become more aware and hope the justice system considers re evaluating the definitiom of “careless driving” and make thesedrivers pay for their actions!
confidential says
Mr T. Most of those (as you call them ) Expanded Cyclist People and Joggers they have a job and work maybe not as landscapers with trailers or rushing late office workers drivers, but sure they work too and are health concious trying to stay in shape. My child is one of them and is enough she had to give up road cycling because of all these agressive drivers around.They have the same “privileage” as you have to use our roads as were those kids in the curve waiting for their school bus.What is your problem with road “sharing”? Every time my car aproaches a bunch of kids in the street wether just waiting for the “bus”or plain playing, I slow to walking pace or a stop and only proceed when those kids clear the road. No rush is worth a life!
Confused says
It is 304 that connects to US 1 by the Mobile, 305 connect to 100. Just a small detail but wrong is wrong and I like to see accurate reporting.
[Thanks for the correction, which we’re always glad to make, keeping in mind that there are more elegant ways to bring them to our attention. Bitchy is bitchy.–FL]
not mrs t says
In one sense Mr t has a point about kids at these non-bus stops, standing in the road often blocking traffic and being in harm’s way. But, with that said, its the driver’s responsibility to slow down when these kids are present. Where were the parents, is right. Kindergartners and first graders alone at a bus stop?
As far as landscapers go with trailers they should SLOW DOWN. Most of these guys unprepared limits on our residential streets.
These kids got lucky though. Up north a kid was killed by a trailer hitch that unlocked as this guy was speeding around a corner, killing one kid and permanently maiming another. SLOW DOWN.
Prayers to the children.
Anonymous says
I kinda agree with Mr.T on his point of where wher the adults at this bus stop? Kids are kids and do not think about where they stand for the bus. They should be watched at that age and be taught to saty far off the road. As for the driver he should have seeen them and given them more room. He should be charge with something Hit and run??
Magnolia says
Anonymous, how about leaving the scene or negligence? He should be cited. Nobody in this town stops anymore and that’s against the law no matter how simple or serious the accident is.
If this trend continues, then the fines/penalties will become more serious. You NEVER leave the scene of an accident which you caused.
Cypress Grand says
Driver’s should always slow down at bus stops, treat it as though it is a school zone. I always slow down to 20pmh as I approach a bus stop with approximately 10-12 small children standing by the curb on East Hampton. You never know when one may accidentally run out in front of you.