A 15-year-old Middleton High School student died Wednesday morning after being struck by a vehicle, according to police.
The incident happened at 6:35 a.m. on E Hillsborough Avenue on a set of railroad tracks between 22nd Street and 30th Street. Police said Shenika Davis, who was wearing dark clothing, was crossing Hillsborough from north to south, not in a crosswalk.
Davis, a ninth grader, was almost to the sidewalk when she was struck.
The driver of a white GMC Sierra truck, 46-year-old Tommy Murphy, apparently did not see Davis, according to police. It was still dark outside, and after Murphy struck her and stopped, another vehicle behind him almost hit Davis but missed.
Speed did not appear to be a factor in the collision, officials said.
Police spokeswoman Andrea Davis said it appeared to be a tragic accident and no charges have been filed.
As police investigated the scene, Murphy sat in his car, apparently distraught and surrounded by relatives.
Counselors were being sent to Middleton High School to speak with students Wednesday morning, said Linda Cobbe, spokeswoman for Hillsborough County Schools.
Wednesday was International Walk to School Day, a day meant to create awareness of the need for walkable communities and safe crosswalks and sidewalks.
“That makes it even worse,” Cobbe said.
Eastbound traffic on Hillsborough between the two streets was shut down for about an hour and a half as police investigated. Several people were standing near the scene of the accident, which is across from Sanwa Farmer’s Market.
The road reopened around 10:30 a.m.
No other information was immediately available.
