A 17-year-old high school student was hit by a car as she crossed Mark Twain Boulevard. Larissa Dawe, a senior at Timber Creek High School, had missed her bus and was trying to catch it at the next stop, when the accident took place.
Dawe was taken to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children for treatment of her injuries. According to Florida Highway Patrol spokeswoman Sgt. Kim Montes, Dawe’s injuries were not serious.
This Orange County pedestrian accident is the first in the area to involve a student this school year. Montes said that although the Florida Highway Patrol does not keep track of the amount of students hit by cars, these types of pedestrian accidents are rare. She also said that more of these crashes happen in the morning than afternoon.
The driver, 62-year-old Robert Erskine, was cited by troopers for failing to yield to a pedestrian. He was not injured in the Orlando pedestrian accident, but his windshield and fender were damaged.
The accident occurred at approximately 6:30 AM when it was still dark outside. She had just stepped off the sidewalk when Erskine hit her, but police believe he did not see Dawe.
The road was closed briefly following the accident.
