Teacher with a 1-year-old son met the intersection in front of the restaurant and killed the intersection

Jacksonville, Florida (WJXT)-a teacher in Florida and his 1-year-old son were killed when they were fatally hit by a car when leaving a restaurant. Community members say that their tragic deaths could be avoided.

Mitchell Patch, a math teacher at Bayview Elementary, attended a big party last Friday evening at the Wicked Barley Brewing Company in Jacksonville. He left the restaurant around 8:30 p.m. and held his 1-year-old son Everett. When the two crossed the street, they were fatally hit by a car.

Many people in the community are now concerned about the safety of pedestrians on Baymeadows Road and say that the tragic deaths of the father and son could be avoided.

“We lost a child. We lost a husband, a teacher. What a terrible thing to do. Who is next and when will someone do something about it?” said George Birnbaum, a concerned citizen.

Birnbaum says he and his wife are regular customers in Wicked Barley, and while enjoying the restaurant, there are simply not enough parking spaces. Some customers are forced to park across the street and then go through a four -lane part of Baymeadows to get to the restaurant.

The walk via Baymeadows can be dangerous, especially at night, and there is no zebra crossing. Critics say that the nearby bridge over Goodby's Creek also creates security concerns by being difficult to see someone across the street.

Community members are calling for better lighting and a pedestrian circus at the location. A city council has contacted the city's traffic technology department and escalated the problem with the State Department of Transportation.

In the meantime, Patch by Kelly York's director of BayView will be remembered as a “committed educator”. On Saturday she sent a message to the school families to share the news of Patchs Death.

“We will definitely remember Mr. Patch for his incredible commitment to the students and the teaching profession,” says the message. “Our sympathies go to Mr. Patchs Family, Friends and our entire school community in this difficult time. I am deeply sad and I know the students, employees and family members who knew that Mr. Patch will miss him enormously.”

A gofundme was founded to help Patch's wife covering the funeral costs and other expenses in connection with the death of her husband and son. From Monday evening it had collected more than 100,000 US dollars.

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