Jacksonville Councilman Demands Safety Upgrades After Father, Son Killed on Baymeadows Road

Following the fatal pedestrian crash that killed Mitchell Patch, a local teacher, and his toddler son on Baymeadows Road in Jacksonville, Councilman Joe Carlucci is pushing for urgent safety improvements in the area. Carlucci has called for the installation of a traffic signal, enhanced lighting, road striping, and additional signage to address the dangerous conditions where vehicles frequently travel at high speeds. He has formally requested the Florida Department of Transportation (FDOT) conduct the necessary safety study to determine appropriate traffic enhancements, which is a prerequisite for implementing improvements. The crash, occurring near Wicked Barley Brewing Company, has heightened community concerns about pedestrian safety on this busy four-lane road, which sees over 19,000 vehicles daily. FDOT reviews all crashes resulting in injury or death to evaluate potential safety upgrades, and the study is expected to be completed in the coming weeks. Carlucci remains committed to ensuring such a tragedy does not happen again by prioritizing impactful changes along Baymeadows Road.