On October 24, 2026, 19-year-old University of Florida freshman Hazel Krauss was struck by a vehicle on West University Avenue near the 2300 block. She died from her injuries.

Hazel's death has deeply affected the University of Florida community and brought renewed attention to a serious safety concern that students and residents face every day. Along this stretch of West University Avenue, the lack of conveniently located protected crossings leaves pedestrians with limited options. Many people cross outside designated crosswalks because reaching a protected crossing requires traveling farther down the street in either direction. Rather than focusing on the actions of individual pedestrians, we must examine why the roadway's design leaves people with these limited options in the first place. Our goal is to make safe crossings accessible, not to place blame on those who need to cross the street.

West University Avenue is more than a roadway. It runs alongside our university, student housing, and neighborhoods where thousands of people live, study, and travel. Students should have access to safe pedestrian crossings, especially in areas where pedestrian activity is common.

Sadly, this is not the first tragedy on University Avenue.

In December 2020, 18-year-old UF student Maggie Paxton was killed while crossing West University Avenue. Just one month later, 19-year-old UF student Sophia Lambert died after a vehicle collision sent a car into a group of pedestrians. Additional fatal pedestrian crashes have occurred along this corridor in the years since.

The available safety data demonstrate why improvements deserve urgent attention:

• 70 pedestrian crashes and seven pedestrian fatalities were identified in historical University Avenue corridor data cited by the City of Gainesville in 2023.
• 12 pedestrians suffered serious injuries in that same dataset.
• 16 total traffic fatalities occurred on University Avenue between 2015 and 2022, according to Gainesville's Vision Zero reporting. This figure includes all traffic fatalities, not just pedestrian deaths.
• The corridor's crash rate exceeded three times the statewide average, according to the city's findings.
• More than 20,000 vehicles travel along portions of University Avenue daily, according to previously published city traffic information.

These statistics cover different portions and periods of University Avenue. Although they are not all specific to the 2300 block, they demonstrate the broader history of traffic and pedestrian safety concerns along the corridor.

FDOT has already planned additional pedestrian crossings and lighting improvements along West University Avenue, but construction has not yet begun. The existing project includes a proposed pedestrian crossing approximately 100 feet east of SW 23rd Drive, near the area where Hazel was struck. Construction is currently scheduled to begin in spring 2027.

We believe this timeline deserves immediate review in light of the recent tragedy and the documented history of crashes along University Avenue.

We are asking FDOT, the City of Gainesville, and UF leadership to work together to improve pedestrian safety near the 2300 block of West University Avenue without unnecessary delay.

Specifically, we request:

• A protected pedestrian crossing near the location of Hazel's death. FDOT should evaluate and prioritize one or more clearly marked crossings with pedestrian-activated signals or equivalent protection, placed at the safest feasible locations near the 2300 block.
• An accelerated construction timeline. FDOT should review whether the already-planned pedestrian crossing near SW 23rd Drive can be completed earlier than its current schedule.
• Immediate temporary safety measures. While permanent improvements are pending, officials should evaluate temporary lighting enhancements, speed feedback signs, additional warnings, and other feasible protections.
• A comprehensive safety assessment. FDOT should examine vehicle speeds, pedestrian crossing patterns, roadway curvature, sight distance, lighting conditions, and the distance between existing protected crossings.
• Public accountability and updates. FDOT and local officials should publish a clear timeline for the improvements and provide regular updates to the university community.

No family should have to experience the loss of a loved one in a traffic tragedy.

No student should have to choose between crossing an unsafe stretch of road and walking a significant distance to reach a protected crossing.

We respectfully urge FDOT, the City of Gainesville, and the University of Florida to prioritize a protected pedestrian crossing near the 2300 block of West University Avenue and publicly commit to a timely plan for its completion.

 

Please sign this petition to support safer pedestrian infrastructure along West University Avenue and help prevent another tragedy.

 
Sources:
City of Gainesville — University Avenue Pedestrian Safety Statistics (2023). Reports historical pedestrian crashes, fatalities, serious injuries, and the corridor's crash rate compared with statewide averages. City of Gainesville: $8 Million Federal Safety Grant
City of Gainesville — Vision Zero Newsletter (2024). Provides historical traffic fatality data for University Avenue, including 16 total traffic deaths between 2015 and 2022. Gainesville Vision Zero Newsletter
Florida Department of Transportation — West University Avenue Safety Improvements, Project 207817-Details the proposed pedestrian hybrid beacon crossings, lighting improvements, project location, and construction schedule. FDOT Project Details