A 20-year-old Jacksonville man lost his life early yesterday morning after being struck by two vehicles while he was walking along Philips Highway. The tragic incident occurred around 2:30 a.m. near Bowdendale Avenue, as reported by First Coast News. The Florida Highway Patrol stated that the pedestrian was hit by a sedan and then by a box truck, leading to fatal consequences.
Authorities are trying to piece together why the young man was walking in the roadway. "For an unknown reason, the pedestrian was walking in the southbound lanes of Philips Highway," a Florida Highway Patrol news release states, as reported by Action News Jax. Following the collisions, he was pronounced dead at the scene by the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, leaving the community to unexpectedly grapple with this sudden loss.
The driver of the blue sedan, a 37-year-old Jacksonville man, sustained minor injuries as a consequence of the incident. According to News4Jax, the other vehicle involved was an Iszuzu box truck, operated by a 41-year-old man from Jacksonville. The FHP has not released further details about the drivers or why the pedestrian was in the road at the time of the incident.
Following the accident, southbound traffic on Philips Highway was disrupted for several hours, with lanes finally reopening at 7:30 a.m., as was reported by First Coast News. The FHP's investigation is ongoing, and they are urging anyone with information to come forward.
