Photo: WJXT
A woman died and a St. Johns County deputy was seriously injured Saturday night in a crash on State Road 16, according to the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office.
At about 8:20 p.m. on Saturday, a 68-year-old woman from St. Augustine was turning left onto State Road 16 eastbound from the Stratton Boulevard intersection.
According to the report from the Florida Highway Patrol, she pulled out in front of the deputy, who was traveling west on State Road 16 in the left lane.
The front of the deputy’s SUV hit the driver’s side of the woman’s SUV, which spun out into the left turn lane of SR 16 eastbound. The deputy’s SUV crossed all eastbound lanes and hit a stop sign.
The sheriff’s office said the 30-year-old deputy was taken to the hospital with serious injuries. The driver of the other vehicle died at the scene.
The driver who died was reportedly wearing a seat belt, while the deputy was not, according to FHP, which is investigating the crash.
Stratton Boulevard on State Road 16 was closed in all directions after the crash. It fully reopened at about 2 a.m. on Sunday.
St. Johns County Commissioner Clay Murphy, who spent 26 years as a Florida Highway Patrol trooper before entering public office, told News4JAX the intersection has been a growing concern as new commercial development brings more traffic to that curve.
“There’s been some commercial businesses come in there that’s caused a little bit more traffic,” Murphy said. “It is in a curve. There are some things to look at.”
Murphy said the Florida Department of Transportation has been focused on reducing dangerous cross-traffic situations like the one that occurred Saturday night — though he acknowledged the proposed road design changes have not been universally welcomed.
“I know that DOT has been working really hard to change the design of roads so that the number of cross-traffic situations like this is reduced,” Murphy said. “I know that there’s been a lot of public pushback when it comes to the designs that they’re looking to try to make our roads a little bit safer. So we’re really looking forward to the process working through and seeing if we can make our roads a little safer.”
Murphy also extended condolences to the victims and their families.
“I just want to extend my deepest condolences,” he said. “It’s never a good thing. And we’re just praying for the families.”
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Source: News4jax
