Teen Hit By SUV in Front of Palm Harbor Middle School

A 13 year-old girl was hit by a SUV as she crossed a road in front of Palm Harbor Middle School Monday morning.

The teen was crossing 19th Street North and was walking toward Palm Harbor Middle School, when a 2000 Toyota 4Runner driven by Steven Carl Kozak, 49, of Dunedin made a right turn off Tampa Road and onto 19th Street North, hitting the girl while she was in the crosswalk, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).

The crosswalk signal indicated the girl could cross and Kozak had stopped for the red light before he made the right turn, but he failed to see the girl in the crosswalk, according to FHP. 

The front of the SUV hit the girl on her right side, knocking her onto the roadway. The girl, who attends Dunedin Middle School, was transported by ambulance as a precautionary measure, according to Victoria Hawkins, Principal of Palm Harbor Middle School.  

The accident happened around 8:40 a.m., which was before school crossing guards begin their shifts at 8:50 a.m. according to Sgt. David DiSano of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Office.

Kozak was given a citation for failing to yield the right of way to a pedestrian.