A 27-year-old man lost his life in a traffic collision involving a St. Johns County Sheriff's Office patrol vehicle on US-1 near St. Augustine, early yesterday morning. The Florida Highway Patrol reported that an SUV, later confirmed to be a patrol vehicle, was heading southbound on US-1 just south of Shore Drive around 12:12 a.m., when the man entered the road and was struck by the vehicle. Action News Jax detailed that following the collision, the pedestrian incurred life-threatening injuries and was transported to Flagler Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
An investigation into the crash is currently underway by the Florida Highway Patrol. First Coast News has reported that the victim sustained critical injuries as a result of the collision, leading to his subsequent death. The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office has acknowledged the involvement of one of its patrol SUVs in this tragic incident. The name of the victim has not yet been made public as authorities are likely still in the process of notifying next of kin.
Details surrounding the cause of the accident and the circumstances that led to the pedestrian entering the roadway remain scarce. However, the FHP emphasizes the ongoing nature of the investigation, suggesting that further information may emerge in due course. First Coast News highlighted that the early morning hours when the crash occurred are often less trafficked, but even then, the roads can still be unpredictable and dangerous.
In a statement to News4Jax, officials have not commented on whether speed or any other factors on part of the patrol SUV driver contributed to the collision.
