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15-year-old airlifted to hospital after getting hit by box truck in Davenport

Deputies say the driver stopped and is cooperating with the investigation.

DAVENPORT, Fla. — A 15-year-old girl is in critical condition after she was hit by a box truck while crossing the street Tuesday morning, according to the Polk County Sheriff's Office.

It happened at 6:45 a.m. at County Road 547 North and Sophie Lane just north of Davenport School of the Arts.

Deputies say the 15-year-old was crossing County Road 547 from east to west in a marked crosswalk. The area was dark and there were no lights on along the road in front of the school.

The sheriff's office also noted that northbound traffic was stopped and there was no traffic in the southbound lane.

As the teen was still in the crosswalk, she was hit by a box truck driver heading south. She was airlifted to the hospital where she is said to be in critical condition, but stable. 

Deputies say the driver stopped and is cooperating with the investigation.

In an update, the sheriff's office said there are no anticipated charges as speed, distracted driving and impairment were not factors in the crash.

The investigation is ongoing.

In response to the accident, a representative from Polk County Public Schools said the district already has plans underway to improve safety around the school.

"We’re told that there is a flashing beacon at the crosswalk where today’s accident occurred. It currently runs from 7:35 a.m. to 8:35 a.m., but the county will adjust the beacon to activate at 6:15 a.m. to help bring more awareness to pedestrians at this time of day," spokesperson Kyle Kennedy said in a statement. 

Kennedy also said the district has been in contact with Duke Energy about expediting pending light requests around the county, including at the crosswalk where the student was hit and in the vicinity of Davenport High School.

"Polk County is also finishing the implementation of a reduced speed zone near the front of DHS that includes flashing beacons and reduced speed signage," the statement reads. "We have reached out to the Polk County Sheriff's Office to provide additional traffic enforcement around DHS, and emphasize the need for drivers to be cautious."

Editor's note: The Polk County Sheriff's Office previously reported that the 15-year-old was walking with a group of other teens, but later issued a correction stating she was alone. This story has been updated to reflect the latest information.

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