A tragic traffic incident in Jacksonville Beach claimed the life of a bicyclist who collided with a semi-truck on Thursday evening, according to local authorities. First Coast News reports that the crash occurred near Beach Boulevard and 12th Street South and the call about the accident was logged just after 5:45 p.m.
The victim, a man believed to be in his 50s or 60s, was quickly taken to Memorial Hospital in a critical state but did not survive his injuries. As the night unfolded, declared open by the City of Jacksonville Beach Police Department was at 12th Street at 8:30 pm, after being earlier shut down for investigation following the fatal incident. In their social media update, Jacksonville Beach Police Department confirmed the reopening and noted that what started as a serious injury collision is now treated as a traffic fatality.
The Jacksonville Beach Police Department, in a statement to the press, verified that the individual involved in the crash was pronounced dead after being transported to the hospital. Action News Jax detailed that the crash was responded to by both police and the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department at around 5:48 p.m.
Authorities indicated that the truck driver remained at the scene following the accident and is cooperating with the ongoing investigation. While 12th Street South, courtesy of the accident's aftermath, was initially closed between Beach Boulevard and Shetter Avenue, it has since been cleared for traffic. The closure, which lasted several hours, was necessary to facilitate the preliminary investigation by the Jacksonville Beach Police Department.
