DAVENPORT, Fla. — At the newly opened Davenport High School in Polk County there has already been three incidents involving kids getting hit by cars on their way to school.

What You Need To Know

  • Davenport High School has seen three incidents involving students getting hit by cars on their way to school in the year and a half it's been open

  • Many parents are urging the school district and county to implement better sidewalks, lighting and signage in the area

  • Polk County officials say they are aware of the incidents, but told Spectrum News it's not just Davenport that's seeing this issue

  • The county has implemented a sidewalk committee, which has $2.25 million to spend annually. However, the request to improve the area near Davenport High School hasn't been approved

Many parents are concerned with the trend, including a mother of four, Natalie Garcia.

"The biggest issue is accidents between cars, as well as students trying to walk to school every day," she said.

Garcia recently saw a student get hit by a car — the third such incident Davenport High School has seen since opening last year.

"There are no sidewalks, there’s nowhere for them to walk, there’s absolutely no lighting down this entire road," said Garcia. "So depending on how far down the school you’re walking, nothing is protecting you."

Polk County officials told Spectrum News they are aware of the problem and said that a sidewalk committee decides where $2.25 million in annual funding goes.

However, pedestrian fatalities and injuries are a problem seen across the county, they said, and the project in Davenport is still awaiting approval.

Director of Polk County Roads and Drainage, Jay Jarvis, said that money is highly competitive with hundreds of requests per year.  Jarvis said only about 10-12 projects are usually selected each year.

While the road to getting answers keeps ending in a detour for Garcia, she said she’s not giving up.

"It’s just a process," she said. "You have to call this person, then this person who has to handle it. I’ve been told there’s no funding, there’s a lack of resources when it comes to the lights."

Garcia said it’s not just the lighting and sidewalk situation, the speed drivers are going in the morning is also a problem.

"There’s a school zone light right here and it’s not even turned on," she said. "The school has contacted the county several times and they have yet to send anyone out to fix that."

Polk County officials said the signs may not be fully installed and it’s up to the school district to contact their office. But the county also said the signs department is seeing delays due to supply chain issues.

Spectrum News reached out to the Polk County School District for an interview and officials responded with the following statement:

"Davenport High recently had two lights installed in front of the school to increase visibility during the early morning hours. School and district officials have also been working to add more safety features if possible, but we encourage motorists and students to be extra careful during the morning drop-off, as well as afternoon dismissal."

Spectrum News also reached out to the Polk County commissioners for comment on the situation but they have declined to be interviewed.