A mother in Hillsborough County is calling for changes on a local road where her son was struck by a car while biking to school.

Samantha Collins can’t help but think of road safety and her kids every time she walks along Debuel Road in Lutz. Her son was recently hit by a driver at the intersection of Debuel Road and Willow Pond Drive, a spot where she says illegal U-turns happen despite clear signage.

“I’m just thankful it wasn’t worse—he’s OK, and that’s what matters,” Collins told Bay News 9. “We’re taking it day by day, supporting him while trying to fix this.”

The “this” she’s working to fix is the lack of safety measures near Maniscalco K-8 School. With more kids walking to school and traffic steadily growing, the area has become a concern for families. “It’s chaotic,” Collins said. “Even driving through there makes me nervous.”

She pointed out that the driver who hit her son was ticketed, but the risky U-turns haven’t stopped. On top of that, Collins noted that a crosswalk approved for Debuel Road at Hanna Road was never put in place. “Something as simple as painted lines and signs might’ve made a difference,” she said.

County officials say two new crosswalks and sidewalks are in the works for Debuel Road, but there’s no set date for when they’ll be done. Collins is pushing for faster action to curb speeding and protect kids. “Every parent dreads something like this,” she said. “I’m afraid they won’t act until it’s too late.”

Follow the St. Pete-Clearwater Sun on Facebook, Instagram, Threads, Google, & X

(Image credit: Google Maps)

PIE-Sun.com: local St. Pete-Clearwater news