Orlando high school student killed while crossing street near school: FHP

Oak Ridge High School struck, killed

A 16-year-old student from Oak Ridge High School was killed Monday morning after being struck by a car near the campus, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

ORLANDO, Fla. - The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash that occurred Monday morning in Orange County.

Pedestrian killed near Oak Ridge High School

What we know:

A 16-year-old girl was struck and killed by a car while walking to Oak Ridge High School around 8:10 a.m. Troopers said the crash happened in front of 700 Oak Ridge Road, just west of Winegard Road, near Oak Ridge High School.

The 28-year-old driver stayed on the scene and has not been criminally charged at this time. Authorities say the student was not in a crosswalk when she was hit.

The posted speed limit on Oak Ridge Road is 45 miles per hour, though residents claim drivers often exceed that limit.

Pedestrian identified as student: OCPS

Update:

Later Monday, Orange County Public Schools confirmed that the pedestrian who died was a student at Oak Ridge High School. In a message to families, school officials said the crash occurred just off campus and that school administration is assisting law enforcement with the investigation.

According to the FHP report, the student was a 16-year-old girl and was not in the crosswalk.

Details of the crash not yet released

What we don't know:

It remains unclear whether speed directly contributed to the crash. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) has not confirmed if the driver will face any future charges. Additionally, there’s confusion among local residents about the specific speed limits during school hours, and whether more significant safety measures could have prevented the tragedy.

The backstory:

The crash occurred on Oak Ridge Road, a busy area near the high school. While there are school signs, speed monitors, and nearby crosswalks, some residents say traffic control is insufficient. The Florida Department of Transportation notes that school zones for high schools are determined case-by-case through engineering studies, rather than automatically applied.

What they're saying:

Throughout the day, students and residents gradually learned about the fatal accident.

"That’s crazy to hear," said Chamilka Rivera, a junior at Oak Ridge High School. "I heard the ambulance."

There’s growing frustration over the lack of safety measures such as enforced speed zones, cameras, or speed bumps near the school.

"I don't really see much of any kind of attempts to try to slow down the traffic," said Penny Brecker, a nearby resident. "If it saves a life, it might be worth it," Brecker added.

"It could have been any of them," said Jose Rosario, whose daughter attends the school. "Even if they would put speed bumps or something out here to slow down the speed on the vehicles would be good."

Last year, an ordinance allowed speed-enforcement cameras at 21 schools across Orlando — but Oak Ridge High was not included in that list.

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