A Pinellas Park High School student was killed December 18, while trying to catch the bus to school.
Nora Hernandez-Huapilla, 17, was at the intersection of 66th St and 70th Avenue with a class mate, when they saw their bus pull up across the street. Attempting to catch the bus, they ran across the intersection and the girl was hit.
The driver who hit Hernandez-Huapilla was said to be heading northbound, and had a green-light. Investigators said is was dark and rainy at the time of the accident, but they don't think speed was an issue. Hernandez-Huapilla was taken to Bayfront Medical Center where she was later pronounced dead.
Some are pointing fingers at Pinellas County School District, who has had to relocate several stops lately, as the arterial bus stops have been presenting safety issues and raising controversy recently.
Although Julie Janssen, Pinellas County School Superintendent, states parents are responsible, "...when they choose to allow their children to go to a school thats not their zoned school," others want more changes in the stops.
A family member of Hernandez-Huapilla suggested the family had made several complaints about the safety of the bus stop. Pinellas County School Superintendent Michael Bessett confirmed the family had called once in October and claimed the district was handling the request accordingly.
