Darcien Shubbar said she repeatedly warned her daughters to not take the shortcut when they had to go to the store on Busch Boulevard.
At 10:46 a. m. Sunday morning, 8-year-old Jayla Shubbar and her 12-year-old sister were heading to the store at Busch Boulevard and 14th Street, and once again, Ms. Shubbar said she warned them to not take the shortcut.
The shortcut she warned them about was a fence that had been torn down so people could cut across the railroad tracks on the south side of Busch Boulevard at the dead end of 14th Street near Sulphur Springs, then take their chances crossing to the other side amid the busy traffic.
According to Tampa Police, Jayla and her sister were going to the store when they tried crossing the busy street. Jayla was hit by a vehicle that was heading east on Busch Boulevard. The driver reportedly did not see Jayla, and hit her. She was transported to Tampa General Hospital in critical condition, but was later pronounced dead.
Detectives are investigating the incident as an accident.
Ms. Shubbar said she wants to be an advocate to get the fence repaired and also get some kind of traffic signal at that intersection.
“When the kids see the grownups cutting through the fence, they think it’s alright for them to do it. I never was comfortable with it, because they have to cross a bad section of the railroad tracks, then try to get across the street.
“I want to find out who is responsible for that fence, and do whatever it takes to make them fix it. I don’t want to see this happen to another child.”
Ms. Shubbar didn’t comment further, as she became overcome with grief and was trying to figure out what to do next. She did have friends and family members with her at her home.
Jayla was a third grade student at Sulphur Springs Elementary School.
