NEPTUNE BEACH, Fla. — A 15-year-old was hit by a car and killed late Friday night in Neptune Beach with a community and family now left reeling.
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“His parents and family are simply devastated,” Neptune Beach police chief Michael Key said Saturday morning. “I sat with them [Friday] night in their living room and there are simply no words to express the loss of a child.”
According to the Neptune Beach Police Department, it all happened at 10:10 p.m. Friday night as that teen was riding their bike home with a friend from the Fletcher High School homecoming football game. That’s when Florida Highway Patrol says a car driving along Penman Road hit the 15-year-old who later died of their injuries. Their friend was unharmed.
Neptune Beach PD said Saturday morning the driver of that car and several witnesses all stopped at the scene and are cooperating with the investigation.
“We don’t have these things happen in Neptune Beach, they’re very few and far between,” said Chief Key. “Our community is extremely, extremely tight-knit.”
Now, with questions still to be answered and FHP investigating what factors led up to that overnight tragedy in Neptune Beach, one message remains:
“I’d just say hug your child today. Because we all warn our children to be careful, but this is something when the tragedy strikes, it hits home with so many people,” said Neptune Beach mayor Elaine Brown.
Action News Jax has reached out to FHP for updates on the investigation and is waiting to hear back.
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