A coastal drive along Jack Nicklaus Drive ended in tragedy Monday evening when a 77-year-old Georgia woman was killed after the SUV she was riding in veered off the road and hit a concrete utility pole near John D. MacArthur Beach State Park.
Authorities identified the passenger as Sara Dunham of Woodstock, Georgia. Palm Beach County Fire Rescue pronounced her dead at the scene. The Lexus driver, a 68-year-old woman from New Smyrna Beach, was hospitalized with serious injuries after the crash.
Crash details and response
The Palm Beach County Sheriff’s Office told CBS12 that deputies responded around 6 p.m. on March 9 to the 11000 block of Jack Nicklaus Drive, near John D. MacArthur Beach State Park.
Investigators said the vehicle, a 2024 Lexus RX350, failed to negotiate a left-hand curve, went off the roadway, traveled down an embankment and slammed into a concrete utility pole. After the impact, the SUV rotated slightly before coming to a stop.
According to deputies, the driver was wearing a seatbelt and was taken to St. Mary’s Medical Center in West Palm Beach with serious injuries.
Where the crash happened
The wreck occurred along the stretch of Jack Nicklaus Drive that runs beside the coastline and John D. MacArthur Beach State Park. The park lists its address as 10900 Jack Nicklaus Drive and is the only state park in Palm Beach County, offering nature trails and a small nature center, according to the MacArthur Beach State Park website.
That mix of local drivers and visitors is a familiar sight along this coastal corridor.
Investigation ongoing
Per CBS12, Palm Beach County deputies said no other vehicles were involved in the crash. Next of kin have been notified, and the circumstances remain under investigation.
Authorities have not released additional information as investigators continue to work to determine what led to the deadly crash.
