Thursday morning’s commute through Palm Coast turned tragic when a pedestrian was hit and killed by a van on Pine Lakes Parkway near Wellington Drive. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene, and traffic was shut down as investigators worked the crash. Authorities said the van was driven by a 91-year-old Palm Coast man who had been traveling eastbound on the roadway when the collision occurred.
How officials described the crash
According to WESH, Florida Highway Patrol troopers said the crash happened around 8 a.m. when a pedestrian tried to cross Pine Lakes Parkway and was struck by the front of a van. Troopers said the person was pronounced dead at the scene, and investigators were working to determine the victim’s identity.
State log shows fatality and road closure
The state’s live incident log records the wreck as a “Fatality” at Pine Lakes Parkway and Wellington Drive and notes the roadway was blocked while troopers investigated. The Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles’ traffic page captured the morning response and the resulting road closure at that intersection.
County response ahead of the holiday
Flagler County Sheriff Rick Staly said his office would step up patrols on local roads and waterways over the Fourth of July weekend after two deadly crashes unfolded within minutes on Thursday morning. “Let’s work together by not driving distracted and not driving aggressively,” Staly said, as reported by News4JAX.
What investigators say next
Florida Highway Patrol investigators remained at the scene for hours and had not yet released the pedestrian’s name or said whether any charges might follow. Officials told reporters they plan to share more information as the investigation moves forward, according to WESH.
