A routine Wednesday morning drive in northwest Jacksonville turned deadly when a car slammed into the back of a semi-tractor-trailer, killing a 26-year-old man and leaving a young child in critical condition.
The crash happened around 8:45 a.m. at the busy intersection of New Kings Road and Soutel Drive. Emergency crews shut down parts of the area for hours as Jacksonville Fire Rescue worked to stabilize the victims and clear the scene. Both an adult and a pediatric patient were rushed to local hospitals.
Crash details
According to News4Jax, a Hyundai Elantra heading south on New Kings Road failed to stop and rear-ended a southbound semi that had slowed for traffic just north of Soutel Drive.
Jacksonville Fire Rescue transported the 26-year-old Hyundai driver to the hospital, where he later died. A child under 10 who was riding in the car was taken to the hospital in critical condition. Authorities said the semi driver was not hurt and cooperated with investigators at the scene.
Officials note restraint questions
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office told Action News Jax that the child "should have been in either a car seat or a booster seat," though investigators have not yet confirmed whether any restraint was actually in use.
Florida law requires drivers transporting children 5 years old or younger to use a federally approved child-restraint device. Older children must use booster seats or seat belts, as outlined in the Florida Statutes.
Safety context
This collision marks the 85th traffic death reported in Duval County so far this year, according to local reporting. The intersection of New Kings Road and Soutel Drive has seen other serious crashes, and it has already caught the attention of city planners.
The City of Jacksonville has identified Soutel near New Kings Road as a priority corridor for safety work and pedestrian upgrades. Targeted projects for that stretch are laid out in the City of Jacksonville plan.
Investigation ongoing
The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office is continuing to investigate the crash and initially urged drivers to avoid the area while first responders worked the scene.
The investigation remained active into the middle of the day, according to Action News Jax, and more details are expected as authorities complete their review.
