Student, 16, hit by vehicle walking to bus stop

A student was hit by a vehicle in Spring Hill this morning.

Troopers said 16-year-old Jonathon Dowling was walking to a bus stop when he was hit by a vehicle at Pinehurst Drive at Post Court shortly before 6 a.m.

Dowling was transported to Bayonet Point Hospital with critical injuries.

Dowling attended Weeki Wachee High School, where principal Troy Labarbara said he is a junior.

"You never want to hear anything bad about any student being injured or what have you," Labarbara said. "Intelligent boy -- good kid. Never had any problems or issues with him."

Winifred McKnight lives next to the intersection where the teen was hit. She said students walking to the bus stop are always very careful.

"They seem to be pretty orderly," McKnight said. "They are not crossing in the middle, they are at the corner. They seem to be following the rules."

Labarbara said students and faculty at the school are praying for Dowling.

"Worst part of a principal's job is getting those type of phone calls," he said.