13-year-old hit, killed on narrow road

BROOKSVILLE — A dozen or more Hernando County school buses ply the narrow country lane called California Street every morning, making at least 35 stops in both directions.

The posted speed limit is 50 mph along even the most densely populated stretches of the five-mile road, and there isn't a sidewalk, a bus stop warning or a signal in sight.

In the hours after 13-year-old Kaitlyn Harper was struck and killed Tuesday morning on the way to a bus stop, officials said that must change — and quickly.

"I think more needs to be done," said Sandra Nicholson, chairwoman of the School Board. "People need to know that there are kids down there. It's not a good situation."

Kaitlyn was hit around 6:45 a.m. by a southbound pickup truck driven by Mark A. Buel, 52, of Brooksville. Witnesses said she was walking or running near the edge of the southbound lane. No charges have been filed in the accident.

District officials said Kaitlyn, a student at West Hernando Middle School, was on the way to a bus stop at California and Narrow streets. It wasn't clear why she didn't accompany her brother to their assigned stop at Wolf and Powell roads, said transportation director Linda Smith.

"There's no need (for her) to walk up California," Smith said, speculating that the girl might have been walking to visit a friend at the other stop.

"We have stops every other block for the little kids. Some of the older ones might have to walk a block," she said. "There are no hazards. There's room for kids to walk off the road on the grass."

But superintendent Wayne Alexander said the board might take the issue of safety on California Street to the County Commission to review the possibility of adding signs, lights or other traffic-calming measures.

"Kids are naturally going to walk on the road if they don't see any cars," he added. "Where would you walk at 6:45 in the morning, the grass or the street?"

Trevor Wolff, a 14-year-old student who witnessed the accident, said it's not unusual to see fast-moving cars there.

"When I'm coming to the bus stop, people are flying," he said. "People go too fast on this road."

Nicholson said the School Board had little power over the speed limits or the lack of sidewalks, but should consider installing bus stop warnings immediately.

"That's been a bad road (in the 22 years) I've lived here," she added. "There have been all kinds of accidents along that road. There are a lot of people out there."

Board member Charles "Pat" Fagan said the board should set aside extra money for signs and examine other roads that lack sidewalks or warnings.

As officials were talking about preventing a recurrence, students and faculty at West Hernando Middle School were grieving. The district had a crisis intervention team on hand all day to help students.

"I think the students are handling it well," said principal Toni-Ann Noyes. "But we've got to keep our heads on straight and keep our focus. We've got to be the strength these kids need and we've got to let these kids know that we're here for them."

Times staff writer Joel Anderson and photographer Will Vragovic contributed to this report. Tom Marshall can be reached at tmarshall@sptimes.com or (352) 848-1431.

Comments on this article

by Family	Sep 16, 2008 8:05 AM
FIRST of all, Kaitlyn was a teenager.Even though her parents told her not to walk on that road,kids will be.KIDS.Secondly, Even as an adult I openly admit that I would rather walk on the side of the road then in grass that came to my knees.

by Family	Sep 16, 2008 8:05 AM
What happened to Katie was an accident, a terrible tragedy, nothing more. YES the road does need street lights, and YES the speed limit does need to be lowered. But don't you dare say our family was responsible for this!

by parent and teacher	Sep 15, 2008 7:13 PM
I feel bad for everyone involved, and yes, that includes the driver. There are kids in the road in the dark, and quite frankly, they are not acting like they care if a car is coming or not. I hope this poor guy gets a public exoneration.

by verna	Sep 12, 2008 5:50 PM
I have say im so sorry for the family and pray for them that they lost thier child, it makes me sick and then to read smith transportation would say she didnt have to go to that bus stop come on shes a kid ,i drive on that road its dark and cars fly

by Vikki	Sep 12, 2008 5:34 PM
My thoughts and prayers to Kaitlyn's family and to Mark and his family. I have known Mark for several years, he is such a nice guy. He would have done everything he could to prevent what happened. Unfortunately, there was nothing he could do.

by school friend	Sep 12, 2008 5:15 PM
i didnt know her verry well but she was really cool and i was hoppin to get to know her better but now shes gone someone should have tried to get her out of the rode why did they have a bus stop on a busy rode like that anyways.? R.I.P Kaitlyn</3

by Krissy	Sep 11, 2008 2:58 PM
How dare some of you point the finger at the family!! I seriously doubt they even knew she was walking down to that bus stop! This was an accident! They've lost their daughter...what is wrong with you people?! Keep your selfish comments to yourselves

by mom3	Sep 11, 2008 2:33 PM
My condolences to Kaitlyn Harper's Family & friends.

by mom3	Sep 11, 2008 2:33 PM
why does it take a tragedy like this for the school district to realize that bus stops need to be improved? And the county commission to realize that roads are unsafe? These issues should never have been issues.

by BIB	Sep 11, 2008 2:31 PM
I drive a school bus in another state and we pick up door to door. God bless the Parents and the driver of the truck My heart goes out to all of you.

by lisette	Sep 11, 2008 11:24 AM
we need more bus stop signs nd low speed limits for stuff like this not to happen. In the moring drivers are careless this would help

by Colleen	Sep 11, 2008 11:24 AM
Most parents have to work for a living and do not have the luxury of walking kids to and from school. How about safe bus stops instead? side streets instead of main roads?

by Veroncia	Sep 11, 2008 11:24 AM
We know how to walk to school ok...Im sure Kaitlyn had a good reason why she did that.Add more side walks then.

by Colleen	Sep 11, 2008 11:23 AM
I've been asking the Trans. dept to look at stops by us since this summer and continue to be ignored. Sad a little girl had to die for HCSB to wake up and listen.

by fred-fred burger	Sep 11, 2008 11:21 AM
i think the truck should watched where it was going, i know what it is liked to have a loved one kirlled or hurt in a car accident. Now i can't walk to school without a blinker. People need to pay more attention to where they are driving.

by morgan	Sep 10, 2008 8:00 PM
i will miss her she was one of my best friends in the 5th grade

by James	Sep 10, 2008 5:45 PM
Way to step up Wayne. "Might" take up the issue of safety. Most normal people, parents, and friends, our harts are broken. But you Wayne, "might" look into it. Thought you were superintendent bus stop to bus stop. Have some compassion just once.

by Mom	Sep 10, 2008 5:45 PM
There is no reason for kids to be waiting at the bus stop in the dark when there are no sidewalks or street lights to protect them from not only cars, but preditators. Linda should be fired for her LIES in the above article alone. HOW CARELESS!

by Jennifer	Sep 10, 2008 5:44 PM
Kids should not be walking to or standing at bus stops where there are no sidewalks. The county can't even keep the weeds on their right of way below the required 18", would you want to walk through those weeds.

by Concerned Citizen	Sep 10, 2008 3:03 PM
I'd like to see Linda Smith let her children walk along that road and say there are no hazards! What is wrong with that woman? In light of what just happened how could she say such a thing? God bless the Harper family, my prayers are with you.

by Disgusted	Sep 10, 2008 3:00 PM
The county has known for YEARS that most of the school bus stops are unsafe. I can guarantee NOTHING of any substance will be done to protect pedestrians. The county doesn't care about safety, only about their budget and the bottom line.

by Brittany Marie	Sep 10, 2008 2:42 PM
Kaitlynn was my best friend we have know each other since the 4th grade I love her and will miss her terribly!!! I love you katie

by Noreenn	Sep 10, 2008 1:44 PM
How can you say there are no hazards,there is no signs,or signals saying there are bus stops ahead slow down!!!!!!People drive like crazy in the county!

by Kim	Sep 10, 2008 1:42 PM
Something MUST be done to PROTECT the future of our country, Our Kids. Our hearts go out to the Harper Family & the people who knew this fine young lady... I'm so sorry.

by John	Sep 10, 2008 1:41 PM
Kis should be taught when walking to school to walk on the side facing traffic to see the vehicles coming towards them.

by Valerie	Sep 10, 2008 9:12 AM
My thoughts and prayers go out to this family. More and more as I travel our roads around brooksville I see children in unsafe circumstances due to budget cuts and gas reduction. I feel that our children pay the ultimate price for these cuts.

by Michelle	Sep 10, 2008 9:10 AM
They definitely need to do something about this road and they also need lights for late at night!!! Signs won't do anything for the safety of these kids,they need sidewalks and lights. How many more lives need to be taken before we will take action!

by TAMI	Sep 10, 2008 9:10 AM
ANYBODY WHO KNEW KATILYN LOVED HER SHE WILL BE DEEPLY MISSED BUT SHE WILL ALWAYS BE IN OUR HEARTS.MY BEST WISHES & PRAYERS GO OUT ALL THE FAMILY & FRIENDS.

by Concerned	Sep 10, 2008 9:10 AM
As a newcomer to Hernando County, I wrote a letter in May to the county complaining that speed limits were entirely too high for many residential areas - Elgin, Barclay, Mariner, etc. My letter was basically met with bureaucratic rhetoric. How sad.

by Pookie	Sep 10, 2008 9:10 AM
I think that people should stop blaming the bus transportation and instead should look to personal responsibility. It was an accident, she was in the road, in the dark, not even at her bus stop.

by Candi	Sep 10, 2008 9:10 AM
Put in side walk's. Why aren't there side walk's ? City can't afford them ? That's just an excuse. If it save's one child from being hurt or killed by a driver then it's well worth the money. Tax's are high, City has the money. Side walks save life's

by Candi	Sep 10, 2008 9:10 AM
The Parent's need to walk there children to the bus stop, or better yet, drive them to school. How sad for the family of this child. Please fight with the City to make safer road's with side walk's to save are children from being hit by a car.

by Candi	Sep 10, 2008 9:10 AM
The Parent's need to walk there children to the bus stop, or better yet, drive them to school. How sad for the family of this child. Please fight with the City to make safer road's with side walk's to save are children from being hit by a car.

by Haven	Sep 10, 2008 9:10 AM
Terrible tragedy. I see drivers flying & passing stopped school buses all the time, not on this road, but on others. The majority of drivers on their way to work in the am are not paying attention to kids waiting for the bus.

by FED-UP-WITH-TRANSPORTATION	Sep 10, 2008 9:10 AM
I feel sorry for the parents. This is all the Boards fault. They have kids walking such long ways to bus stops now. Even kids walking on Barclay & Elgin in the dark. Trans Dept said it is ok because they are in High school, even though NO SIDEWALKS.