14-year-old boy hospitalized after being struck by van in Spring Hill

A 14-year-old boy was in serious condition Thursday morning at a Tampa hospital after being struck down by a van along Landover Boulevard, troopers said.

Shortly before 8 a.m., Derek Kruis, of Spring Hill, darted across the roadway at the corner of Tillery Road just as a Ford E-350 was traveling southbound through the intersection, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

The front left corner of the van struck Kruis and the right rear tire ran over him, said Sgt. Steve Gaskins, an FHP spokesman.

The Ford was driven by 20-year-old James Albert Baird, troopers said.

Kruis was hit by the van as he was walking to school. He is a student at Explorer K-8, which is located about seven blocks from where the accident took place.

Hernando County Superintendent Bryan Blavatt recommended to the school board to discontinue busing for students who live less than 2 miles from their zoned school. The board approved the recommendation prior to the current school year.

"It can happen any time and anywhere," Blavatt said of Thursday's accident. "When we wanted to go to the 2-mile (radius), we had to take more precautions and we have."

More crossing guards and more district-led safe practices were implemented, he said.

Kruis was airlifted to St. Joseph's Hospital. He was listed in stable condition as of noon Thursday.

There is no traffic light at the intersection, but stop signs are posted along Tillery, according to FHP.

Gaskins said Baird did not have the stop sign and no charges were expected to be filed against him as of this morning.

"Obviously, we wish it hadn't happened," Blavatt said. "It's not presumptuous to assume that there was something we could've done to prevent something like that from happening. We'll look at that."

Explorer Principal John Stratton took time Thursday to remind students to be more careful as they walk to and from school. He said he wishes he could convey that message just as easily to parents and residents who live nearby.

"We're in a very populated and condensed area with almost 1,800 kids and a lot of them walk to school," he said.