FLAGLER ESTATES, Fla. — A 14-year-old is in the hospital with serious injuries after a vehicle hit him on his way to the bus stop in the Flagler Estates area on Friday.

The Flagler Estates Community Redevelopment Area, or CRA, has tried to improve lighting in the area for years now.

Shirley Lassiter, who lives in the Flagler Estates area and works with the CRA, says people are concerned, and praying accidents like this come to an end with the help of a simple solution: streetlights.

The CRA has proposed more streetlights in the rural community. One streetlight was even slated for the intersection closest to Friday’s hit-and-run crash.

The CRA’s plan includes 40 additional streetlights in Flagler Estates near bus stops. Lassiter says it would cost $7,200 and is backed by St. Johns County and Florida Power and Light.

However, the CRA and the county say they are waiting on necessary buy-in from the Flagler Estates Road and Water Control District.

“St. John’s County is on board, they have approved funding. This is really just a matter of the water and road control district signing the form, the inner local agreement that allows FPL to do the work, and St. John’s County to do the paying,” Lassiter said.

But, the president of Flagler Estates Road and Water Control District says people do not want it, because it would cost more tax money.

As for Lassiter, more is at stake here. It is safety for children as they head to the bus stop in the dark.

“I’m frustrated that it is taking so long to move this project forward,” said Lassiter.

The cause of the crash is still unknown, and the 14-year-old is still in the hospital. The president of Flagler Estates Road and Water Control District said they will discuss this matter of streetlights at their meeting on Wednesday.