BITHLO, Fla. — Channel 9’s investigation into rapid growth in Bithlo raised questions about whether roads and infrastructure are keeping up. Now, parents are raising another concern: the safety of students walking to and from East River High School.
They said dangerous conditions near the school are putting children at risk.
It’s very dark when Samantha Parrish drops her daughter off at East River High School nearly every morning.
Related--> Too many cars, not enough roads? 9 Investigates crash data in Bithlo
Poor lighting and limited pedestrian protections at East River Falcons Way, near SR-50 and CR-419, are putting kids at risk, Parrish said.
“You can’t see them at all when it’s dark until it’s too late,” Parrish said.
It’s an area MetroPlan Orlando has identified as part of its High Injury Network. Following our investigation into Bithlo’s rapid growth, parents said student safety needs to be part of the conversation.
Now, there’s some progress.
Related--> Students, parents concerned about roadwork area safety near Orange County schools
Orange County has committed to installing flashing pedestrian beacons, while Duke Energy is adding streetlights to improve visibility.
“Really excited to see everything get put up and we can start seeing our kids cross the walk way,” Parrish said.
She said more protection is needed.
A group of parents is calling for crossing guards during high school hours and wants a pedestrian overpass considered for future SR-50 widening plans.
“I know a lot of them before school and more after like to walk across to Wawa or McDonald’s for something to eat for after school activities,” Parrish said. “It’s concerning there’s nobody there to help them cross.”
Related--> Crashes surge 300 percent at State Road 50 Intersection, FDOT fix remains years away
As Bithlo continues to grow, parents said infrastructure needs to keep pace before another family is forced to deal with tragedy.
“It’s only supposed to get worse with all the development,” Parrish said. “It’s really concerning there’s nothing to save our kids. I’d like us to not be another statistic.”
The flashing beacons and additional streetlights are expected to be installed within four months. Channel 9 has reached out to Orange County and the sheriff’s office to see if crossing guards can be added during high school hours.
Click here to download our free news, weather and smart TV apps. And click here to stream Channel 9 Eyewitness News live.