Northbound I-95 near New Smyrna Beach was shut down early Monday after a deadly crash that left at least one person dead, authorities said. Troopers and emergency crews stayed on scene at the Indian River Boulevard/Exit 244 area for hours, choking overnight traffic and forcing early-morning drivers onto detours.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, the crash was logged as a "Fatality," with northbound lanes reported closed at mile marker 248 and traffic cut off at Exit 244. The incident entry, timestamped in the early morning hours, listed responders on scene and advised motorists to seek alternate routes.
ClickOrlando reported the crash occurred around 1:30 a.m. just south of the State Road 44 exit, with the blockage centered at the Indian River Boulevard ramp. The outlet noted there was no immediate information on what triggered the wreck or whether anyone else was hurt.
Where the crash happened
The Florida Highway Patrol logged the closure near mile marker 248, roughly between the SR 44 ramps and the Indian River Boulevard interchange. According to the New Smyrna Beach Police Department 2023 annual report, SR 44 between I-95 and Mission Drive is one of the city's most crash-prone stretches, which can make local detours even more stressful when the interstate is shut down.
Traffic impact and detours
Drivers heading north during the closure faced significant delays and were urged to plan alternate routes for the morning commute. The Florida Highway Patrol incident listing carried a standard "seek alternate route" advisory, and motorists were encouraged to rely on official traffic feeds and navigation apps for real-time detour options.
What we know and what's next
State troopers had not released a cause of the crash or a full accounting of victims when the incident was first logged, and ClickOrlando reported there was no immediate word on additional injuries. The Florida Highway Patrol typically updates its live incident information as investigators clear the scene and wrap up initial work, and this report will be updated when troopers release more details.
