Joanne Jones, an 84-year-old Palm Coast resident of long date, was pinned and killed in a t-bone crash at the intersection of Utility Drive and Old Kings Road at 5 p.m. Wednesday. Two others–her husband and the driver of the other car–suffered injuries.
Jessica Shank, a 27-year-old resident of Palm Coast, was at the wheel of a 2015 Chevrolet Equinox, traveling west on Utility Drive. Louis Jones, 84, of Emerson Drive in Palm Coast, was a passenger in the Nissan Altima that Joanne was driving north on Old Kings Road.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol’s preliminary investigation, Shank attempted to make a left turn to go south onto Old Kings Road. The front of the red Nissan collided with the front driver’s side of the white Equinox. The vehicles ended up blocking Old Kings Road.
Joanne Jones was not immediately killed. “They’re both moving but they’re really old in the red car,” a caller to 911 reported, while Shank was able to get out of her car and walk at the scene, but with leg pain.
The Palm Coast Fire Department and Flagler County Fire Rescue went to the scene and an extrication began Joanne, who was “completely under [the] steering wheel, trapped in car,” according to notes by a Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy at the scene. “No doors would unlock. I entered vehicle through broken window, and held C-spine on patient until fire department completed the extraction.” Firefighters had to cut a significant portion of the vehicle to conduct the extraction. The extrication was completed at 5:27 p.m.
Flagler County Fire Flight, the emergency helicopter, landed on Old Kings Road and took Joanne Jones to Halifax hospital in Daytona Beach, where she died. Louis Jones was also a trauma evacuation: he was transported by ground to Halifax, but is expected to recover.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Shank and Louis Jones were wearing seat belts. Joanne was not. Charges are pending, and may entail a charge of violation of right of way: there is a stop sign at Utility Drive.
Louis Jones and his wife have been Palm Coast residents in the E Section for 18 years.
The Palm Coast Fire Police regulated traffic around the crash scene until almost 7 p.m., when Old Kings Road was reopened.
palmcoaster says
Wonder why Shank violated the stop sign…and killed an innocent elderly and injured others and self.
John F Pollinger says
Not to minimize what happened I will simply remind in all circumstances…..look left….look right….then look left again before proceeding……defensive driving….it matters.
Vicki and Brian Nixon says
God bless the victim and her family.
Rick Kang says
Sad, but speed and failure to stop at stop sign caused a terrible accident! Obey traffic signs and speed limits!
jadobi says
This is a case of “thinking you can make it before the other car can.” Has nothing to do with running a stop sign.
John dolan esq. says
The boulevard rule. Traffic on the main blvd. (Old kings) has the RIGHT OF WAY. Vehicles approaching from side streets must WAIT! Until the traffic enables you to pull onto the blvd. Safely. Failure to comply with this rule will result in major accidents.
hawkeye says
I would love to know if shank was texting when she went through the stop sign and killed the other women?
woody says
John,You actually have to ALMOST come to a complete stop before you can look left-right-left again which is mostly unheard of in Palm Coast.Still a nice reminder.
Lovely Lady says
For those of you pointing fingers at elderly drivers, not this time!
Concerned Citizen says
There’s absolutely no reason to run a stop sign and violate a right of way. Charges should very well be pending. How about stepping it up and going for vehicular manslaughter? One person is dead because Ms.Shank was in a hurry.
I drive a good bit for my job every day and the amount of distracted/reckless driving out there is awe inspiring. We are the only ones who can change that behavior and make the roads safer.
Stronger criminal charges and stiffer sentencing is needed to start sending messages.
BeachGuy says
When are these cars going to STOP killing people? Enough already! I’m going to wake up tomorrow and organize a march. Who’s in?
Really says
Made it to 84 only to be killed by a careless driver. SMH tragedy
Tia says
Shank took the life of a very sweet lady she was my grandma.she fought cancer and won several times but this how her life ended with someone violating a stop signs.
Tanya says
I am so sorry for your loss, Tia. My heart goes out to you and your family.
Richard says
Stop signs, stop lights, yield signs, right on red lights, drivers in Palm Coast, Flagler Beach and for that matter the entire state of Florida have no clue as to their meaning and significance. None of them matter because 99.99% of the people who violate them receive no consequences for doing so. Condolences to the family of the deceased and injured. To shank put the phone away while driving before you kill more people.
Barb says
I’m so sorry for your loss Tia.
Tina Thompson says
Has ms. Jones been a teacher at FPC by any chance?
MemTgr says
So sorry for your loss. This was totally senseless.
Greg says
Joanne was my dear, sweet cousin. Not only had she just successfully fought breast cancer for the 2nd time, but she was also the caretaker for Louis, who was legally blind and has dementia. So sad to be taken away by a careless driver.
Scott says
My only surprise is that this doesn’t happen more often. Have you noticed how many drivers no longer yield? The mentality is, “I think I can make it, so I’ll just go for it, and if not, this sucker can just yield to me instead”. I have people pulling out in front of me all the time. I realize cops can’t police everything, but when was the last time you seen anyone pulled over in Palm Coast? People no longer fear being pulled over because it never happens.
Vicki and Brian Nixon says
Every time people start up their car they have to remember they are actually driving a weapon and should be extremely aware of their surroundings and apply all the rules to the road and respect one another., you are absolutely right we are the only ones that can make a difference we have to take control and responsibility every time we get behind the wheel! Pay attention people there is nothing more important then safe arrival to your destination
Female Veteran says
I am SO SORRY for your loss.. sending prayers to your loved ones, specially for Louis. I pray he recovers and he will be able to deal with this. May she RIP. From how amazing Joanne sounds I’m sure she has her wings already and will watch over all of you to give you strength and peace.
As for this careless, selfish, irresponsible female Shank.. there is NO excuse in the world to have caused this nightmare. It musta been nice being able to get out of her car and walk on the scene. The LEAST of her charges should be violating to stop at a stop sign. They should at least do a charge of vehicular man slaughter and hope they are able to have a great attorney to be able to make it stick. What she caused should not be a slap on the hand and then being able to just keep living her life like nothing ever happened..
RIP Joanne ❤️🙏🏽
Deary says
Tia, I’m so sorry for your loss. Mrs. Jones was a lovely lady who was loved by all that met her. She and Mr. Jones were such a sweet and loving couple. Their love for one another was so beautiful. I always enjoyed chatting with them. They always light up when they talked about their family. I loved hearing their stores about their kids and grandkids. She was a great lady and will be missed dearly. My continued prayers are with Mr. Jones and the family. I’m heart broken for him, as well as the rest of the family.
Janet S. says
Every car crash that causes a fatality is a somber reminder that traffic laws are in place to prevent such tragedies. Obey all posted traffic signs, be alert of your surroundings at all times and always wear your seatbelt.
Seen enough to know says
Who says she didn’t stop? All it said was that she might be charged with violation of right away. That doesn’t mean she didn’t stop! That means that she pulled out in front of a vehicle when she was not supposed to. I love how everyone is so easy to judge. It could have been purely an accident and she might not have seen the car when she pulled out. I guess all the ones doing the judging are perfect drivers. Yes this is a very sad situation and more than likely could be avoided, but stop being so quick to jump to judgement.
Janet S. says
I am not understanding the “lynch mentality ” that seems to be the main focus of these comments. Unless you were there, you have no business condemning Ms Shank. Mrs Jones was not wearing a seatbelt, that is a fact. The injured survivors were wearing seatbelts, also a fact. There was no mention of running a stop sign, texting and alcohol was ruled out. It was an accident, tragic, but true. The family of Mrs Jones is in mourning, Ms Shank is not ingnoring the fact of a fatality. No one is going on with their lives as if nothing happened. Pardon the expression , but vehicular manslaughter is over kill for this case. A simple seat belt is the defining factor between a fender-bender and a fatality.
Richard says
Janet S, please clarify the lawful meaning and explanation of a STOP sign and what it means to a driver of a vehicle who encounters one? I don’t think the law has changed since I went to Driver Training class in high school back in 1961. YOU must STOP, look left and right TWICE and proceed ONLY when safe to do so. Obviously Ms Shank attempted to occupy the same space with her car as did Mrs. Jones who by the way had the RIGHT-OF-WAY. Yes, wearing a seat belt MAY have changed the outcome but it doesn’t change the fact that there is only ONE driver responsible for this accident and persons death. Plus when viewing the photo, the damage certainly looks significantly worse than a simple “fender bender”.
Janet S. says
Richard, I understand the law and what to do when approaching a STOP sign as well as looking both ways more than once prior to proceeding. I am not sure what the speed limit is on that road, but yes, definately more deztruction than a fender bender. Purhaps Ms Shank miscalculated the speed of Mrs. Jones car. I was not there, neither were you. As much as Ms Shank. Ould have failed to look both ways the appropriate amount of times, there is also the possibility that Mrs. Jones was speeding. As you stated, there is alot of damage to the car
Female Veteran says
Richard, you’re exactly correct!! But you must know how it is nowadays.. always blaming someone else during situations that are clearly their fault. You MUST ALWAYS give the right away when you have a stop sign.. ALWAYS!!
That sign has been there for over 20 years, it wasn’t just put there last week. This is what happens when people think they have it all figured out. You miscalculate a situation, break the law and cause an innocent amazing lady her life and have her elderly sick husband in the hospital to deal with his wife’s death when she was the main caretaker of him… let’s blame the seatbelt but with that impact I don’t know if it would of made a difference.
I pray for him and their family and friends to have the strength to help them through this.
Janet S. says
Her elderly sick husband survived because he was wearing his seat belt. Had there been no collision, both drivers were breaking Florida traffic laws. Shank for failing to yield the right of way and Jones for not wearing a seatbelt, maybe even a ticket for speeding
Liss Albney says
This was my amazing, sweet, wonderful Grandmother. For her to be gone has just broken my family. She was everything to us. For her to survive breast cancer as many times as she did ( which is why she wasn’t wearing seatbelt, she had just got the all clear to drive, but the belt went across the incision) she really had a spark for life, on May 2nd she would’ve been 85, instead of celebrating her birthday, she was cremated on this day. Joanne Jones, my grandmother can never be replaced and the void left in my heart will always remain just that…… a deep void. Grandma you are forever missed, what I wouldn’t give to have been driving that day……… if only we could go back
Shelly Long says
I am the daughter of these people. You need to be careful and considerate of people’s feelings. This lady was someone’s mother and she died because someone was careless.