Giunta Student Struck, Traffic Crash Congests Greater Brandon Traffic

Extreme traffic congestion has been reported this morning, Nov. 16, after a Giunta Middle School student was struck by a vehicle at Bloomingdale Avenue and La Brisas Drive, in the Greater Brandon area of Riverview, between South Kings Avenue and Watson Road, near Winthrop.

• Update: Brandon Girl Struck on Bloomingdale Avenue in Critical Condition

According to a 9:43 a.m. report from the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office, the female student, a pedestrian, was transported to Tampa General Hospital in serious condition. An earlier report said the injuries were "life-threatening."

The parents of the girl and officials at the school, at 4202 South Falkenburg Road, have been notified.

Traffic homicide investigators arrived on the scene to lead the investigation.

The report notes further that "traffic in the area is extremely congested" with "both lanes down to one lane in each direction." Motorists were advised to take an alternate route of travel.

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Update Posted 11:15 a.m.

The Giunta student has been identified as Andrea Bower, 13, of Brandon been identified as Stephanie Lynn Akins, 30, of Riverview.

At the scene, deputy Larry McKinnon, a sheriff’s spokesperson, said Bower normally catches the bus to Giunta at Bloomingdale Avenue and Buckhorn Springs Road. This morning, however, she missed the bus and attempted to catch it when it looped back west on Bloomingdale to pick up students at Bloomingdale and La Brisas Drive.

Bower was struck at 8:31 a.m, then dragged 20 feet, as she ran across Bloomingdale Avenue, McKinnon said. Akins reportedly attempted to brake but could not do so in time.