ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – A 75-year-old woman was killed Tuesday morning in a crash on County Road 210 westbound near South Hampton Club Way, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
A tractor-trailer and two cars were involved in the crash just before 7 a.m., troopers said.
According to FHP, a blue SUV was traveling west and crossed the center line, hitting the semi head-on before spinning out and being hit by a red Mazda. The driver of the SUV, Nancy Roberts, of St. Augustine, was killed.
She lived with her son just 2 miles from the crash site.
Two people in the red car and the driver of the semi were injured but were in stable condition, troopers said. All three were taken to the hospital.
The impact of the crash caused the semi to flip onto its side in a ditch.
Troopers said the crash left a substantial gouge in the middle of the road that was a little more than a foot long. They said a car could handle the dip but it could be deadly if a motorcycle went over it, so they had to call the Florida Department of Transportation to repair the damage with asphalt before they reopened the roadway.
Neighbors concerned about curve
The stretch of road where the crash happened on CR 210 has a significant curve that many residents say drivers take too fast.
They said they are sadly not surprised by Tuesday's deadly crash.
The speed limit is 45 mph until drivers approach the curve, where it drops to 35 mph.
“People take it too fast. You have to watch people. They speed,” Erin Yocca said. “I really think they need to straighten it out more there. It should not be such a sharp curve like that, and people need to be aware and watch themselves.”
Michelle Fullington said all of 210 is dangerous, especially that curve.
“It’s like a racetrack,” Fullington said. “People fly up and down.”
She lives in the same neighborhood as Roberts. She said she never knew her, but she’s devastated and she’s praying for Roberts' family, who is going through a heartbreak right before Thanksgiving.
One thing residents said might help is putting a traffic light at CR 210 and South Hampton Club Way, so drivers have to stop or slow down before the curve.
A St. Johns County deputy was thrown off his motorcycle this summer, not far from Tuesday's crash. The Sheriff’s Office said someone came into his lane, and he was forced to veer off the road. Fortunately, he’s going to be OK.
News4Jax asked county officials if changes could be considered for the area, but we haven’t heard back yet.
