ORMOND BEACH, Fla. – A 15-year-old girl was hit and killed Tuesday night while rollerblading in Volusia County, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The FHP said the fatal crash happened around 6:45 p.m. in the area of Ocean Shore Boulevard and Buttenheim Drive near Ormond Beach, just east of Michael Crotty Bicentennial Park.
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The family identified the girl as Hannah Curran.
“Hannah represented the best in all of us,” the family said in a statement to News 6. “She loved her family and friends and embraced everyone from all walks of life. She loved K-pop, anime, skating and being close to the beach. She is loved greatly and our hearts are broken.”
Troopers said a 61-year-old man was driving north in a 2000 Mercury Marquis on Ocean Shore Boulevard as Curran was rollerblading in a marked crosswalk.
FHP said the driver failed to yield and hit Curran, who was pronounced dead at the scene.
Curran attended Seabreeze High School in Daytona Beach, according to Volusia County Schools. Grief counselors will be available at the school Wednesday, officials said.
An investigation into the crash is ongoing.
News 6 reached out to the Florida Department of Transportation regarding possible plans to improve safety in the area where the crash took place and received the following statement as a response:
“The Florida Department of Transportation is deeply saddened to learn of the pedestrian fatality that occurred Tuesday on Ocean Shore Boulevard (State Road A1A). Loss of life on Florida’s roadways is tragic under any circumstance.
While this area has various safety improvements planned, including a resurfacing project on Ocean Shore Boulevard, after learning of this tragic incident, team members here at the Department have been discussing the next course of action to see how we can help prevent accidents like this from happening again, including a review of contributing factors to determine any needed safety improvements. FDOT will also meet with law enforcement, businesses, government partners, and local residents, prior to finalizing plans.
In addition to these planned and current actions, the Department is working on a plan to conduct educational outreach in the area regarding pedestrian safety.”