TALLAHASSEE, Fla. – Legislation proposed after a 12-year-old Satellite Beach girl was killed as she used a crosswalk passed another vote Tuesday in Tallahassee, taking one step closer to becoming law. Sophia Nelson was crossing at State Road A1A and Ellwood Avenue on Dec. 22, 2019 when she was struck by a vehicle, according to a Satellite Beach police report. Rep. Randy Fine, R-Palm Bay, and Sen. Keith Perry, R-Gainesville, filed House Bill 1371, known as the Sophia Nelson Pedestrian Safety Act. Named after a Satellite Beach girl killed crossing A1A, “The Sofia Nelson Pedestrian Safety Act” passes a legislature meeting. @VoteRandyFine wants midblock crosswalks to have flashing lights changed from yellow to red or to remove the yellow lights.

The problem has become a fight for the family of Hannah Curran in Volusia County. Curran, 15, was hit and killed by a car in February in a crosswalk in Ormond by the Sea. Back in September, a 20-year-old was killed trying to cross the busy road just a few blocks north. Every crosswalk,” Knowlen said. Sophia Nelson, 12, was hit and killed by a car in Satellite Beach in December of 2019.

COCOA BEACH, Fla. – Some Cocoa Beach residents have voiced concerns over the installation of new pedestrian crosswalks with lighted beacons because they flash yellow and not red, potentially giving walkers a false sense of security as they cross a busy roadway. “We don’t want these tragic incidents to happen like what happened to Sophia.”As part of a pedestrian safety project, FDOT was proposing additional pedestrian beacons to be installed along S.R. A1A in Cocoa Beach, from Cocoa Isle Boulevard and Lucie Lane. While Cocoa Beach city leaders are voicing their disapproval of the project, FDOT moved forward with a public meeting Tuesday and said that the plans for installing the pedestrian beacons are not set in stone. The pedestrian safety project was requested by the city of Cocoa Beach in 2017.

SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. – The driver who hit a 12-year-old girl crossing State Road AIA in Satellite Beach was issued moving traffic violation and will not be criminally charged following an investigation into the deadly crash. In a news release Tuesday, officials with the Satellite Beach Police Department said the investigation into the fatal pedestrian crash is complete and determined the driver will not face criminal charges. “The investigation into this tragic case has concluded but we will continue to deeply mourn the loss of Sophia Nelson,” Satellite Beach police Chief Jeff Pearson said. (Images courtesy of Nelson family)The 82-year-old driver was 395 feet from the crosswalk stop bar when Sophia activated the yellow flashing lights, according to the investigation. “Through this tragic time the Nelson family has leaned on their faith in God and the overwhelming support from family and the community.

Fine has dubbed House Bill 1371 as the Sophia Nelson Pedestrian Safety Act. Sophia’s parents discussing the crosswalk safety bill that passed the House State Affairs Committee this morning. He said they were walking home from the beach and Sophia pressed the button to activate the yellow flashing lights at the crosswalk. The cost to add a traffic signal or pedestrian hybrid beacon at a midblock crosswalk is approximately $300,000. The cost to remove a midblock crosswalk is approximately $7,000.

In his letter, Catino asked FDOT to:• Reduce the SR A1A speed limit in Satellite Beach. The Satellite Beach City Council will discuss a crosswalk enforcement plan during its Jan. 15 meeting. On Dec. 28, nearly 100 people attended a sign-waving demonstration at the Ellwood Avenue crosswalk, protesting the yellow-flashing beacons as unsafe and confusing. I just think personally that those flashing yellow lights need to go away. Barker said Satellite Beach officials have asked FDOT to lower SR A1A speed limits since 1991, to no avail.

SATELLITE BEACH, Fla. – After a 12-year-old girl was killed walking across A1A with her family, a Brevard County commissioner said he's moving forward with an idea to change the flashing lights at the crosswalk. A week later, Commissioner Curt Smith said he’s going to push for the flashing yellow lights to be replaced by red lights. The commissioner said he plans to present the idea to the county commission at their meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 7. “These flashing yellow lights -- most people, if you ask them, they don’t have any clue what they are,” Smith said. Smith said county-wide, five people have died in crosswalks like the ones Nelson died in.