Tampa Tragedy: 6-Year-Old Girl Killed, Mother and Brother Injured After Being Struck in Crosswalk
TAMPA, FLORIDA — A morning walk to school turned tragic Tuesday when a 6-year-old girl was struck and killed by a vehicle in Tampa. Her mother and 10-year-old brother were also hit and remain hospitalized with serious injuries, according to the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said the mother was escorting her two children across Sheldon Road in a marked crosswalk around 7:00 a.m. when a 77-year-old driver turned from Mohr Road onto Sheldon and struck all three.
“They were properly in the crosswalk,” Hillsborough County Undersheriff Thomas St. John said. “They had the signal to cross the road. The driver did have a green light, but as drivers, it’s important and imperative for us to pay attention. Pedestrians always have the right of way.”
Driver Cited for Right-of-Way Violation
Officials confirmed that the 77-year-old driver will be cited for violation of right-of-way involving a death, which carries a $1,000 fine and a six-month suspension of license.
Both the injured mother and son were taken to St. Joseph’s Hospital for treatment of broken bones and other injuries. The driver was also transported to the same hospital for a medical evaluation.
Sheriff’s Office Urges Drivers to Stay Alert
Undersheriff St. John spoke emotionally about the crash, saying such tragedies are preventable if drivers remain alert — especially during school hours.
“On behalf of Sheriff Chronister, I would be remiss if I didn’t mention that tragedies like these today can be avoided,” he said. “We continue to encourage drivers to be safe. Put down your phones, stop texting, pay attention to the road in front of you. Especially in areas where families are walking their children to school. It’s so important. We could avoid these tragedies if we just paid attention.”
No Crossing Guard at the Intersection
The sheriff’s office confirmed that the intersection was not part of a designated school zone and had no crossing guard on duty. Speed was not believed to be a factor in the collision.
Investigators said the family was walking to school when the crash occurred and were following traffic signals correctly.
Community members near Sheldon Road have since called for increased pedestrian safety measures, citing heavy traffic during morning hours.
“This isn’t a reckless driving issue — it’s a visibility and attention issue,” one local resident said. “There are families crossing that area every day. It needs to be safer.”
A Preventable Loss
Officials say the incident serves as a grim reminder of how quickly distractions can lead to devastating consequences.
“Pedestrians always have the right of way,” St. John repeated. “And as drivers, we all share the responsibility to make sure they get to where they’re going safely.”
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