An early-morning commute on State Road 16 turned deadly Tuesday when a semi struck and killed a pedestrian near the Wawa in St. Augustine, shutting down eastbound lanes as first responders rushed in. Emergency crews blocked the roadway while they worked the scene, and officials have not yet released the victim's name.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol's live traffic report, the collision was logged at 6:42 a.m. The entry lists "2222 State Road 16 (Wawa), Saint Augustine" with eastbound lanes blocked while troopers responded. Troopers remained on scene as crews cleared debris and documented the area.
As reported by Action News Jax, the Florida Highway Patrol is leading the inquiry into how the collision occurred. The station noted that investigators were at the scene and that the victim had not been publicly identified.
SR 16's Safety Record
State Road 16 includes long stretches of two-lane roadway with limited sidewalks or marked pedestrian crossings, and transportation planners have already flagged the corridor for resurfacing and safety upgrades. According to the Florida Department of Transportation, the corridor has been targeted in planning documents for improvements.
The North Florida TPO's safety plan has also cited gaps in roadway design on SR 16 as contributing factors in past serious crashes, putting this stretch of highway squarely on the regional safety radar.
Investigation Ongoing
Troopers with the Florida Highway Patrol continue to investigate the circumstances of the crash, and reconstruction at fatal scenes can take several hours. Drivers were urged to steer clear of the affected stretch while crews cleared the roadway and gathered evidence. Officials said more details will be released as they become available.
