A man in his mid-50s was struck and killed Tuesday night while trying to cross Normandy Boulevard on Jacksonville's Westside, in a deadly crash that briefly shut down a busy stretch of roadway. The collision happened in the westbound lanes near Lane Avenue around 8:30 p.m. He was taken to a hospital and later pronounced dead. Authorities said he was not in a marked crosswalk at the time.
What officials say
According to Action News Jax, the crash happened in the 5800 block of Normandy Boulevard when a Chevrolet SUV hit the man. The outlet reports that the SUV's driver, a woman in her 50s, stayed at the scene and is cooperating with investigators, according to a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office news release. Emergency crews shut down the roadway while they worked the scene, then reopened it after the investigation and clean-up.
Investigation status
News4JAX reports that the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office does not expect the driver to face criminal charges. The station also notes that the collision was the 27th traffic fatality in Duval County this year and the seventh involving a pedestrian. Detectives are still reviewing the circumstances and have not released the man’s identity, pending notification of his family. As part of their process, investigators typically review any available video, interview witnesses and analyze vehicle data to piece together how a crash unfolded.
Local safety context
The City of Jacksonville’s Vision Zero Action Plan is aimed at cutting down deadly crashes on high-injury corridors, including major thoroughfares like Normandy Boulevard. Jacksonville.gov says the plan uses data dashboards and demonstration projects to guide investments and safety countermeasures where crashes cluster. Residents and safety advocates have repeatedly pointed to wide lanes and gaps in marked crosswalks along Normandy Boulevard as conditions that make walking there especially risky.
Next steps
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office says it will release additional information as the investigation continues, and Action News Jax reports that a JSO briefing was scheduled following the crash. Officials are asking anyone with information or video that might help traffic detectives to come forward. The case is the latest fatal reminder of the dangers pedestrians face along some of Jacksonville’s busiest corridors.
