PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. – Two drivers were killed early Monday morning when a van southbound on State Road A1A in South Ponte Vedra Beach crossed into the northbound lane and struck an oncoming SUV, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The crash happened about 1:30 a.m. Both drivers died at the scene.
Troopers said the driver of a Ford Transit van was a 42-year-old man from Massillon, Ohio, and the Honda Element was driven by a 29-year-old man from Atlantic Beach.
Larry Miniard has lived in the South Ponte Vedra Beach area his whole life.
“It’s a two-lane road. You could see where that could happen,” he said.
Miniard said he’s had a few close calls on A1A himself and that the area can be dangerous if drivers aren’t paying attention.
“If somebody looks down at their cellphone or if they’re doing something and cross the center line at 60 miles an hour, it’s an accident waiting to happen,” Miniard said.
Ifaa Tensay works at his family’s gas station off A1A. He says he wasn’t shocked when he heard about the crash.
He’s seen many accidents while working there.
“It’s scary because there’s really nothing out here. It’s a narrow road and there’s no lights at night,” Tensay said.
Also Monday morning, a 24-year-old St. Augustine man was killed in a single-car crash on U.S. 1.
According to FHP, the man was driving south on U.S. 1 around 10 a.m. when for unknown reasons he traveled off the right side of the road and hit a concrete electric pole. The driver, who was not wearing a seatbelt, was ejected from the car and died at the scene.