A quiet Saturday in Jacksonville's Fort Caroline Shores neighborhood turned tragic when an elderly man was fatally struck by a backing pickup truck in a residential driveway, authorities said.
The crash happened around 12:46 p.m. in the 13000 block of Tiffany Pines Circle, according to investigators. Jacksonville Fire Rescue responded and pronounced the man dead at the scene.
Investigators told News4JAX that an elderly woman driving a Ford F-150 was backing out of the driveway when she struck the man, who was standing behind the truck. She stayed at the scene and is cooperating with detectives.
The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office is treating the case as a fatal pedestrian crash. Officials said Duval County has now recorded 82 traffic deaths so far this year, including 22 pedestrians. The victim's name has not been released, and the investigation is still underway.
Why driveway backovers are so dangerous
Crashes that happen while a vehicle is backing up, often called backovers, tend to be especially deadly for small children and older adults. Limited rear visibility and tight spaces can turn what looks like a routine maneuver into a life-threatening situation.
A report to Congress from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimated about 292 backover deaths each year and roughly 18,000 injuries across traffic and non-traffic settings. The numbers highlight how dangerous low-speed reversing can be.
Research has found that rearview cameras and parking sensors help reduce risk, but blind spots and human error still make backing up one of the trickier moves behind the wheel.
City plans and local context
The City of Jacksonville adopted a Vision Zero Action Plan in 2025 that calls for eliminating traffic deaths through engineering changes, enforcement, education, and stronger emergency response.
The plan targets neighborhoods with high crash rates and leans on data to guide investments and outreach, a strategy city leaders say is crucial as Duval County's traffic fatalities climb. Officials have said they will keep a close eye on local hotspots and push for steps aimed at cutting both pedestrian crashes and driveway-related deaths.
The Sheriff's Office has not released any further details and says the investigation remains active. Authorities said additional information will be shared as it becomes available.
