A tragic event unfolded on Jacksonville's roadways when a man in a wheelchair was fatally struck by two vehicles on Old Gainesville Road, as reported by the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office. The incident, which occurred around 8:12 p.m. on a Thursday, resulted in the 124th traffic fatality in Duval County for the year as well as the 28th involving a pedestrian, according to First Coast News.
The initial collision happened when the man, said to be in his late 40s, was hit by a westbound Toyota two-door vehicle; subsequently, he was propelled into the opposite lane where a second Toyota, a four-door sedan, struck him, the drivers of both vehicles have stayed at the scene and are cooperating with detectives, as News4Jax detailed.
First responders from the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department transported the injured man to a local hospital where he was pronounced dead shortly after arrival; the identity of the man has not been disclosed pending notification of kin. The section of Old Gainesville Road where the accident took place remained closed for investigation for approximately an hour Thursday night, according to Action News Jax.
During a briefing, Sergeant Hungerford noted the area where the crash occurred is not well-lit—raising concerns about roadway safety particularly for vulnerable individuals such as those in wheelchairs, the full briefing including Sergeant Hungerford's remarks can be watched as per the link provided by News4Jax.
