Church wants speed bumps after girl, 4, hit by car on Father's Day

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville church is calling for speed bumps and speed limit signs after a 4-year-old was hit by a car on Father's Day.

Haidyn Jackson was thrown across the street when the car struck her, breaking her femur. She's currently in a body cast.

Her father, Marcellus Jackson, missed the church service that day and said he will never forget the feeling he got when the phone rang.

"The worst feeling in the world, honestly," Jackson said.

Jackson said Haidyn was actually one of two people hit by cars in front of the church that day.

Jackson said two years ago a man was killed on his motorcycle when he was hit by a speeding car in the same area.

Zion Temple Church Deacon Roderick Cohen said his congregation wants the city to do something about the speeding vehicles in the area.

What they're asking for is a speed bump or speed limit sign, because there aren't any nearby.

They've contacted the city many times but said they're not getting anywhere.

News4Jax spoke with the director of public works, who said this would be handled by the city's traffic engineering division.

He said there are three basic parameters:

  • The city has to decide if a speed bump or speed limit sign is suitable for that location.
  • Then the applicant has to go through a petition process, and get approval from 75 percent of impacted residents and business owners.
  • The applicant also has to be committed to fund 50 percent of the cost.

Jackson is hoping he can help make that happen before another person is hurt or killed in front of the church.

"Can we just put a speed limit sign so no other parent has to go through the heartache that I felt," he said. "That's all I want. I don't see the problem with that. I'm not asking for much."