A pre-dawn crash on State Road 16 at Stratton Boulevard early Sunday turned deadly, leaving one person dead and a St. Johns County deputy hospitalized as crews shut down the busy corridor for hours, officials said.
All directions of SR 16 at Stratton Boulevard were closed while first responders worked the scene and investigators documented the wreck. Traffic was routed around the area as the Florida Highway Patrol took the lead on the crash investigation.
According to a traffic alert from the St. Johns County Sheriff's Office, citing St. Johns County Fire Rescue, the collision involved two vehicles. A deputy was transported to a hospital with injuries, and an occupant of the second vehicle was pronounced dead at the scene. The post said drivers were being diverted at State Road 16 and Race Track Road and at Four Mile Road while emergency crews worked.
SR 16 Safety Concerns Stack Up
This stretch of SR 16 has seen more than its share of trouble lately. In recent weeks it has been the site of multiple serious incidents, including an early-morning crash on July 14 in which a semi struck and killed a pedestrian near a St. Augustine Wawa, detailed in a semi fatally hitting a pedestrian. Local coverage and planning documents have for years flagged portions of SR 16 for safety upgrades, a problem county leaders say they are working to address.
Traffic Headaches Around World Golf Village
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office urged drivers to steer clear of the area while road crews and investigators remained on scene and to stick with alternate routes during the closure. Motorists were warned to expect backups around World Golf Village and the greater St. Augustine area until the roadway could be cleared and reopened.
Troopers Probe Cause Of Deadly Wreck
The Florida Highway Patrol is handling the investigation and is expected to release findings once troopers finish reconstructing the crash and reviewing evidence, according to local reporting. ABC News has reported on recent fatal incidents along SR 16 as state troopers carry out detailed on-site documentation, and officials are asking the public to monitor agency channels for updates.
