Tiffany Dove, 42, a Jacksonville mother of two known in local recovery circles, died on the evening of July 22 when an Amtrak passenger train struck her car on the city’s Westside after she drove around lowered crossing gates, according to her family and authorities. Her brother says she was on her way to give a speech at a recovery meeting and she leaves behind a 19-year-old son and a 16-year-old daughter. The collision shut down lanes around Roosevelt Boulevard and Timuquana Road for hours while first responders worked the scene.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers say Dove was driving south on U.S. 17 (Roosevelt Boulevard), turned onto Timuquana Road and drove around the activated crossing arms before being hit. She was wearing a seat belt and was pronounced dead at the scene, according to News4JAX. Video from the crossing showed a badly damaged car crumpled under the front of the train, and Amtrak said none of the roughly 385 passengers or crew on board were injured.
Misty Bouey, a witness who rushed to help, told investigators she ran across the street, broke windows and tried to cut the victim free from a seat belt before emergency crews arrived. “I held her hand. I was praying for her,” Bouey said, adding that the woman held on for about four minutes, according to Action News Jax.
Family Remembers a Recovery Advocate
Michael Dove told reporters his sister had battled addiction and spent recent years helping others in recovery, and that she was heading to speak at a meeting when the crash happened, according to News4JAX. He said Tiffany had been going back to school for nursing and that he has received hundreds of messages from people whose lives she touched.
Grade-Crossing Risks and the Bigger Picture
Grade-crossing collisions and trespassing on railroad rights-of-way remain a serious national safety issue. Recent federal testimony and data point to more than 260 fatalities tied to highway-rail grade crossings in 2024 and thousands of crossing incidents nationwide, according to a Senate hearing record posted on Congress.gov. Rail and safety officials say many deadly incidents involve people on or trying to beat the tracks, and investigators will typically review gate operation, locomotive camera footage and train event recorders.
The Florida Highway Patrol continues to investigate the collision, and Amtrak said it is cooperating with authorities, Action News Jax reports. Local responders remained on scene to assist and clear the crossing. Family members and recovery groups are arranging remembrances, and community leaders urged drivers to never try to beat crossing gates or signals.
