ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A pregnant 19-year-old woman was killed Tuesday in a crash on U.S. Highway 1 near Hilden Road north of St. Augustine.
The Florida Highway Patrol said Adriola Spahiu of Ponte Vedra Beach was killed just before 2 p.m. when her Nissan Altima, which was heading northbound, veered left, began to spin and crossed the grassy median into oncoming traffic before turning on its right side. A Toyota Prius heading southbound on U.S. 1 hit the top of the flipped Altima, according to the FHP.
The driver of the Prius, 81-year-old Robert Amell of St. Augustine, was taken to UF Health Jacksonville in serious condition.
The St. Johns County Sheriff's Office said both north and southbound lanes were initially closed, and northbound traffic was diverted onto International Golf Parkway. The crash was cleared about 5 p.m.
Spahiu's neighbor, John Decker, said he was passing the accident when he recognized the vehicle.
"I just had a feeling. Just came up on it and just had a feeling to hang around," said Decker.
As much as Decker had hoped his gut was wrong, his worst fears were confirmed when he learned that it was his 19-year-old neighbor's car.
"To be pregnant also. It's just a tragedy no matter how you look at it," he said.
For Decker's 14-year-old son, Calvin, the accident was not just the loss of a neighbor, but a friend as well.
"She was a really cool person once you got to know her," Calvin said. "And she had a cool personality."