JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An early morning crash left two men dead Wednesday after they were hit while standing outside their vehicles on I-95 northbound, near Old St. Augustine Road, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
Troopers said a 56-year-old man from Palm Coast and a 38-year-old man from Jacksonville had stopped just before 5 a.m. in the inside lane and were standing on the inside shoulder of I-95, northwest of 9B.
It’s unclear why they were stopped, FHP said.
Troopers said a 63-year-old man from Wilton Manors, Florida (just north of Fort Lauderdale), was driving a pick-up truck in the inside lane on I-95 NB when he swerved onto the inside shoulder, hitting both men and both stopped vehicles.
The two pedestrians died at the scene, FHP said.
The 63-year-old driver was not injured. The report indicated he was wearing a seat belt.
Traffic on the northbound side of I-95 was diverted onto 9B, and all northbound lanes were shut down for hours on Wednesday morning.
Kelvin Scott, a Jacksonville resident who witnessed the aftermath from the opposite side of the road, described what he saw.
“I was on the other side of the road, so it was really hard to see because the traffic was just for miles and miles and miles,” Scott said. “I knew it was something bad, but it was hard to tell how bad it was. But it looked bad based on what I saw.”
Following the crash, viewers commented on News4Jax’s Facebook page, expressing concern over a lack of lighting in the area.
Scott also noted that lighting is inconsistent along that stretch of highway.
“In some areas it definitely is darker, and then in a lot, especially on 95, the roads just kind of shift,” he said.
Scott also pointed to a broader issue of drivers following one another too closely — a habit he said he observed while driving on I-95 during the Wednesday evening commute.
“I’m old school, so I learned how to drive,” Scott said. “My dad always had two car lengths behind a person. That way, if something does happen, you have a chance to avert it. And that’s what we’re not seeing today.”
The Florida Department of Transportation sent a statement to News4JAX following the crash, which said the following:
Our hearts break whenever we learn of a fatality or serious injury on the roadway. To that end, reviewing crash reports is critical to understanding crash causes and prevention. While the crash is pending investigation, the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) has publicly stated that the fatal crash involved two pedestrians on the interstate. Pedestrians should never be on the interstate. If a motorist becomes disabled on the interstate, the safest action is to remain inside the vehicle with a seatbelt fastened and call *347 (or *FHP) on their mobile phone to request a Road Ranger. FDOT offers Road Ranger service 24/7 on I-95 at no-cost to improve safety for all roadway users.
With respect to law enforcement and to the victims involved in this morning’s crash, it would be inappropriate to speculate on crash causation prior to the conclusion of the official investigation. FDOT respectfully refers inquiries to law enforcement regarding this incident and any available information.
As is standard operating procedure, FDOT reviews all reported crashes on state roadways and interstates – a special emphasis is placed on fatalities and crashes with injuries. If there are improvements that can be made to enhance the safety of the facilities, FDOT will work to implement them. This process includes careful analysis by professional engineers and other evaluations that may be warranted.
Spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation