Deadly Sunday on Florida roads

Several serious and deadly crashes were reported across Florida on Sunday, October 4, with fatalities stretching from Northeast Florida to the Tampa Bay area, Central Florida and the Panhandle.

In Jacksonville, two separate crashes on Interstate 295 turned deadly early Sunday morning.

The first happened around 1:27 a.m. near San Jose Boulevard. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 34-year-old St. Augustine woman was driving the wrong way in the northbound lanes when her vehicle sideswiped another car and then collided head-on with an SUV.

The woman died at the scene. A 23-year-old Jacksonville man suffered minor injuries, while a 35-year-old Jacksonville man was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries.

Several hours later, another fatal crash occurred on I-295 South near Wilson Boulevard. FHP said a 29-year-old Jacksonville man attempted to avoid a disabled vehicle in the roadway, swerved and struck a tractor-trailer that was stopped on the shoulder. The Jacksonville man was killed.

A third crash with injuries was also reported Sunday morning on I-95 South near International Golf Parkway in St. Johns County.

In Hillsborough County, another deadly crash was reported on Interstate 75. A motorcyclist was killed following a series of crashes, according to FHP. The incident caused a roadblock and prompted an investigation by troopers.

Farther south, authorities investigated a fatal crash on I-95 in Palm Beach County. Northbound I-95 was closed at Palm Beach Lakes Boulevard Sunday morning because of the crash, forcing motorists to find alternate routes.

In Hallandale Beach, a pedestrian died after being struck by a vehicle on North Federal Highway. Police said the pedestrian was crossing outside a designated crosswalk. The victim was transported to a hospital but later died. The driver remained at the scene and cooperated with investigators.

Central Florida also saw a deadly incident involving an Amtrak train. In Osceola County, FHP said a pedestrian walking along the railroad tracks near Michigan Avenue and Garden Street was struck by a northbound train. The conductor attempted to avoid the pedestrian, but the collision could not be prevented. The pedestrian died at the scene.

And in Jefferson County, two people were killed after an SUV struck a large tree that had fallen across U.S. 90 near Misty Lake Road. Another vehicle traveling in the opposite direction also struck the tree, but that driver was not injured.

Florida Highway Patrol and local law enforcement agencies continue to investigate several of Sunday’s crashes.

The series of deadly incidents made Sunday an especially difficult day on Florida’s roads, with multiple fatalities reported across different regions of the state.