ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – St. Johns County residents said they want answers and change about what they called a dangerous intersection after a 35-year-old man fatally crashed his car early Tuesday morning on St. Johns Parkway, just off State Road 9B.
Shu Chan is a nearby neighbor, and she walks the pedestrian bridge that the man crashed into every day. She said the intersection scares her and it’s not safe at all.
Jess lives nearby as well and said the caution tape and the crashes are all too common.
“I just couldn’t believe it,” Jess said. “When I woke up I was like, ‘You’ve got to be kidding. Like, another one.’”
Santos Montanez said it’s dangerous too.
“It’s just a terrible bad, bad place,” Montanez said. “I don’t even like being here right now and you know talking to you because we’ll be part of the news.”
Florida Highway Patrol said the man who was killed was trying to come off of SR-9B. Normally, skid marks are visible on the road as evidence if a driver is trying to slow down. That’s not the case as the first visible evidence is the torn-up concrete curb and visible tire marks going across the grass, through the sidewalk, and ultimately into the pedestrian bridge. That’s where the man sadly died.
The News4JAX I-TEAM checked with St. Johns County and their traffic engineers are investigating and looking at the pedestrian bridge.
County records show that there have been 10 crashes at the intersections since 2018. Five vehicles have hit the bridge and three drivers were labeled impaired. Nine out of the ten crashes were after dark.
After the last serious crash, the county did a study with the Florida Department of Transportation and made safety improvements by adding five large reflective signs.
Tuesday afternoon, a county worker was putting a new one in after the crash took one down.
Hampton Ray of FDOT sent an email to the I-TEAM.
“FDOT reviews all reported crashes on state roadways and interstates – a special emphasis is placed on fatalities. If there are improvements that can be made to enhance the safety of the facilities, FDOT will work to implement the improvements.” Ray said.
Neighbors said they want a fix now.
“Just simple lights or blinking lights at the end that this thing will definitely work and some warning lights like a fast-approaching curb, things like that. Because if you’re not familiar with this road, that will happen. And you can’t see anything at night.” Santos said.
State troopers are still investigating if speed was a factor. Neighbors tell us they want to see more speed checks there as well.
The I-TEAM has requested more crash data and records from the FHP and will provide updates as information is received.
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