A deadly crash early Friday shut down all eastbound lanes of Interstate 295 at the Philips Highway interchange, grinding the morning commute on Jacksonville’s Southside to a halt, authorities said. The Florida Highway Patrol confirmed the collision was fatal, and troopers and emergency crews remained on the scene for hours as the investigation got underway. Officials urged motorists to steer clear of the area while investigators worked. There was no immediate word on the identities of those involved or what caused the crash.
What officials said
According to News4JAX, the Florida Highway Patrol reported all lanes of I-295 East at Philips Highway were blocked because of the fatal crash. The outlet said live traffic camera footage showed emergency vehicles clustered at the scene, with FHP leading the response. Authorities had not released additional details at the time of the report.
Traffic feeds and alternatives
Drivers were told to expect major delays and to plan alternate routes while crews worked to clear the wreckage and reopen the interstate. Per Florida Highway Patrol, the agency’s live incident map is updated frequently with closure and crash information, and FL511 provides camera views and route planning tools for Northeast Florida. Motorists headed across the East Beltway were urged to check those feeds before getting on the road.
I-295 crash history
I-295's East Beltway has seen several serious collisions this year that temporarily closed lanes and turned routine commutes into long waits. An April crash that shut down southbound lanes for hours is among the recent incidents documented on local traffic pages and in reporting by News4JAX. Those recurring closures have left many regulars on the beltway wary and highlight the safety risks on high-speed stretches of the loop.
The Florida Highway Patrol is leading the investigation and asked anyone with information to contact FHP through its online contact page. Per Florida Highway Patrol, witnesses can also dial *FHP (*347) from a mobile phone to reach regional communications centers. This article will be updated as FHP and FL511 release more details.
