WELLINGTON, Fla. — A mother is advocating for school safety nearly one year after her son died in a bicycle accident near Woodlands Middle School.
Kristina Coggin lost her 13-year-old son, Landon, when he fell into traffic while riding home after school. She spoke with WPTV during a dedication ceremony at the school in his memory.
Since the tragedy, Coggin has met with state and local representatives to improve safety infrastructure around schools. According to Coggin, new signage was installed in December along Lyons Road directing trucks to use the left lane, safer for students walking on the right.
The family is now advocating for wider sidewalks and added guardrails to separate pedestrians from traffic. An initiative is also underway to construct a pedestrian bridge over the canal between Woodlands Middle School and Joaquin Garcia High School, allowing students to avoid the busy roadway.
A road study assessing the bridge's feasibility is expected to conclude by the end of February, with plans to present findings to the school board in March.
The school recently dedicated its Fine Arts Hallway to Landon, located near the choir room he loved. Danielle Fuente, Landon's chorus teacher, emphasized that the area will keep his memory alive as it is a central passage for students and staff.
Fuente noted that the school has compiled letters from students and staff to share with state representatives, urging for more safety measures. “This was something that was unspeakable grief,” Fuente said, reflecting on the impact of Landon's death on the community.