CLEARWATER, Fla. — A 15-year-old Largo High School student was killed in a pedestrian crash Friday morning in Clearwater, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers said the teenager was trying to walk northbound across Belleair Road, east of South Haven Drive, when he walked into the path of a sedan that was driving westbound. He died at the scene. Neighbors told ABC Action News they believe the teen was walking to his bus stop.
The Pinellas County School District identified the victim as 15-year-old Ethan Weiser and said grief counselors would be at Largo High to provide support.
"We are deeply saddened by the loss of Largo High School student Ethan Weiser, in a tragic accident his morning. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family, friends and school community. We have grief counselors at the school and will provide support as we all grieve this heartbreaking loss."
It happened around 6:45 a.m.
According to FHP, the two-lane road is unlit.
Troopers said the driver of the sedan, a 60-year-old woman from Tampa, came to a controlled stop along the north shoulder of the road.
Ethan’s uncle, Matt Croasmun told ABC Action News that the tragedy could have been prevented and people who live nearby have spent years petitioning for change.
Croasmun described his nephew as kind, gentle, helpful and just beginning to find his place in the world.
“Anytime my mom (Ethan’s grandmother) needed something or somebody needed something in the family, he would volunteer. He would help with the kids and watch the kids. He was a good young man,” Croasmun explained.
A witness told FHP troopers that Ethan was wearing dark clothing and it was too dark to see the 15-year-old on the road. That’s something neighbors have complained about for years.
"It’s just too dark. There’s no streetlights on this whole road until you get further down and then there’s a couple but still not many. These oak trees (over Belleair Road) are so heavily wooded that it makes it even darker here,” explained Bobby Shirley, whose home is right off of Belleair Road and is near the crash site.
The two-lane road is shaded by several oak trees. Signs even warn drivers about the lack of visibility in the area and Croasmun said the location of Ethan’s bus stop to get to Largo High School recently changed.
“The school bus location had moved from his side of the street to the other side of the street so last year this didn’t happen because he got right on the bus and didn’t have to cross the road. My family had sent emails about those bus route changes,” he added.
Pinellas County School District leaders said the bus stop meets state guidelines for its location. Ethan’s family is now joining the push for change along a roadway that they say is only getting busier.
“We have to find a way to create safe spots for our children so if we have crossing lights, a crosswalk, any kind of notification or street lights, that’s needed,” Croasmun elaborated.
Ethan is the second oldest of 6 children in the Weiser family. His mom, Lindsay Weiser, said Ethan stood up as the best man at his brother’s wedding less than three weeks ago.
Ethan just started the new school year on August 10 alongside his younger sisters Emma, Olivia, Lucy and Nessa.
Shirley said he doesn’t blame the driver but does hope the crash will spur change.
“He was so young and just had so much ahead of him and you don’t want to blame the people who got in the accident because it’s super hard to see. There are so many blind spots,” he said fighting back emotion.
Brandon Pitchon’s family has lived off of Belleair Road for more than 40 years and said the construction of new townhomes has made the road busier and he’s also noticed more speeding, which FHP said was not a factor in Friday morning’s crash. He hopes city and county leaders can come together to find solutions to improve safety.
“There’s so many things we can look at and talk about. It’s just action. That’s all we need is action,” he added.
