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Teenager struck by car as she runs to bus stop

The student at New Tampa's Wharton High School is hospitalized with head injuries.

TAMPA - A 15-year-old Wharton High School student was critically injured Monday morning when she ran in front of a car while crossing a busy road to catch a school bus.

Officials said the girl, Elysha Jennings, began running across 40th Street near E Regnas Avenue when she saw the school bus heading south on the two-lane road.

Police said Jennings was hit by Walter Dixon, 66, who was driving his 2002 Chrysler PT Cruiser north on 40th Street just south of Busch Boulevard. His wife said he was on his way to dialysis treatment.

Dixon was not charged.

"She made a dash to catch the bus," said police spokesman Joe Durkin. "Mr. Dixon did not have the chance to avoid her."

Jennings, a special education student, was in Tampa General Hospital late Monday with head injuries.

Family members declined to comment through hospital spokesman John Dunn.

School district spokesman Stephen Hegarty said it appeared that Jennings was trying to reach a different bus stop than the one to which she was assigned.

The school bus was heading to a stop at Regnas and N Greenwood Avenue, on the east side of 40th Street. Jennings' assigned bus stop and her home are located west of 40th.

Hegarty said Jennings was going to the wrong stop and never should have been crossing 40th, a bustling two-lane road.

"We're worried about her," he said. "If she had gone to the right bus stop, she wouldn't have gone across 40th Street. The point here is we try to arrange bus stops so students don't have to cross dangerous roads."

Dangerous bus stops made headlines last year in Pinellas County after two students were killed while crossing five- and six-lane roadways.

The accidents exposed serious problems with the district's transportation department and prompted superintendent Clayton Wilcox to overhaul the system.

At Wharton High School, principal George Gaffney sent letters home with three busloads of students who live near the injured girl.

The letters reminded them to ride their assigned buses and to be careful, especially in the early morning hours.

Gaffney said the 7 a.m. accident upset many staff members because Jennings is the step-granddaughter of the school's cafeteria manager.

"She is part of the school family," he said. "It's just upsetting news."

He said the accident illustrates the need to remind students, regardless of their age, about bus safety.

"They're all invincible in their own minds," Gaffney said.

--Melanie Ave can be reached at 813 226-3400 or melanie@sptimes.com