An armed person on Interstate 95 brought traffic to a grinding halt in St. Johns County on Wednesday afternoon, April 29, 2026, as law enforcement shut down the highway in both directions near mile marker 321. The closure, which started around 2 p.m., quickly rippled through the area, forcing drivers off the interstate at nearby exits and clogging local roads with long, slow-moving backups.
Sheriff's office treating call as mental-health crisis
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said deputies were handling a mental-health-related incident involving an armed subject and shut down I-95 just south of the International Golf Parkway exit, according to News4JAX. With the situation still active, the agency released only limited information as deputies worked along the interstate.
Troopers in tense roadside standoff
The Florida Highway Patrol responded to assist, and troopers ended up in a standoff with a suspect on the highway shoulder, Action News Jax reported. All northbound and southbound lanes were being held while authorities worked to secure the scene before letting any traffic move through again.
Traffic detours and long delays for drivers
Traffic was diverted off I-95 at International Golf Parkway and State Road 16, with drivers warned to expect heavy delays while the investigation continued, according to News4JAX. Motorists heading through northern St. Johns County were urged to build in extra travel time or find alternate routes around the closure.
Why this stretch jams up so easily
The busy corridor around International Golf Parkway and State Road 16 is notorious for turning into a bottleneck. Previous wrecks and vehicle fires in the same area have led to hours-long shutdowns and chain-reaction backups. With both directions of I-95 blocked again, local emergency crews and highway teams were expected to remain on scene until the standoff was resolved and the interstate could safely reopen.
