A 33-year-old Jacksonville man was killed in a car crash earlier today when his vehicle veered off an exit ramp and struck a tree. The Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) confirmed the single-car accident occurred around 3:53 a.m. as the driver was heading northbound on Interstate 295 and took the exit ramp for Alta Drive, as reported by Action News Jax. The car left the roadway for reasons not yet clear and subsequently collided with a tree. The individual was pronounced dead at the site of the collision.
The incident resulted in the closure of the northbound ramp exiting to Alta Drive, which provoked traffic disruptions during the early hours of the morning commute. As of 8 a.m. that day, the ramp remained inaccessible to motorists, urging them to seek alternative routes, News4Jax disclosed.
The FHP has begun an investigation to fully determine what led to the tragic event, as initially mentioned by First Coast News. Details regarding the identity of the man have not been released pending notification of next of kin. However, FHP reported that the driver was not wearing a seat belt at the time of the crash.
As the FHP continues to piece together the moments leading up to the accident, drivers in the area have been advised to maintain caution and prepare for possible ongoing traffic delays. The advice given by FHP to take an alternate route is expected to remain in place until the exit ramp is safe to be reopened to the public, an issue closely monitored by local news outlets. Updates regarding the crash and its impact on local traffic, as well as any emerging information about the cause of the incident, are surely to be provided by local authorities as the investigation progresses.
