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Sarasota County looking at safety options after boy hit, killed by truck while riding bike to school

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SARASOTA COUNTY, Fla. — Sarasota County leaders are looking at new safety options for students. The conversation was started after 9-year-old Roman Miller was hit and killed by a truck while riding his bike to Brentwood Elementary on Monday morning.

Miller lived about a mile and a half from school. The district will only provide a bus for students who live more than two miles away from a school building. Some Brentwood parent’s believe this policy needs to change.

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“Everybody should get the opportunity to be bused if they can do it, I think it would help a lot of the kids,” said parent Amanda Avery.

County Commissioners voted to work with the school board and the Sheriff’s Office over the summer on options like a new school bus plan, adding more crossing guards and making crosswalks more visible.

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"It’s really on us to work with the school board, to work with the sheriff’s office to make sure our kids are getting to school safely,” said Commissioner Christian Ziegler.

The driver who hit Miller hasn’t been charged with a crime, but troopers said that could change pending the result of an investigation.

Brentwood Elementary students and staff are planning a vigil for Miller on Thursday evening.

The vigil will take place on Thursday, May 23 from 6 – 7 p.m. at Brentwood Elementary School located at 2500 Vinson Avenue in Sarasota. The memorial will take place on campus in the courtyard. This a closed event to the Brentwood Elementary School community and surrounding neighborhood.