JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A woman was killed in a hit-and-run crash early Sunday morning in front of a nightclub on New Kings Road, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said.
An off-duty officer working at the LaVilla Sportsman Club in Northwest Jacksonville called in the crash at 3:30 a.m.
From the LaVilla security camera, according to the Sheriff’s Office, it appeared the woman was attempting to cross New Kings Road near Moncrief Road to head to the club when a dark unknown sedan struck her and took off.
Police said the woman, who was described as being about 40 years old, died at the scene.
News4Jax spoke with pedestrians along the busy road.
“I’ve seen cars chasing each other, hitting each other,” said a man, who did not want to be identified.
The man, who has been living in the area for 22 years, said he walks New Kings Road every day and has seen at least three deadly hit-and-runs.
“There needs to be more going on whenever the clubs are open down here,” the man said. “People just ain’t watching out. It’s dark through here. They need more light.”
At the motel across the street, the owner told News4Jax that police asked whether the victim was a guest, but the owner had no record of the victim’s name in their logs.
The officer on scene said, unfortunately, New Kings Road has its share of traffic accidents, hit-and-runs and crashes involving pedestrians. The officer added they work the road as much as possible.
Around the corner, on Soutel Drive near New Kings Road, a 34-year-old man was walking Feb. 22 when he was killed in a hit-and-run crash. His family, as well as others in the community, are calling for safety changes.
Anyone with information about Sunday’s deadly hit-and-run crash is asked to call the Sheriff’s Office at 904-630-0500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-866-845-TIPS (8477).