Last Updated: 12:03 p.m.
Katherine May Sanford, 85, a resident of Palm Coast, was killed Friday evening in a two-vehicle crash on U.S. 1 and Seminole Woods Boulevard. Sandford’s was the third road fatality on Flagler roads in a week.
Sanford was a few hundred yards away from getting home to her apartment in Integra Woods. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, she was at the wheel of her 2014 Toyota Camry, driving south on U.S. 1 around 8 p.m. She made a left turn to get on Seminole Woods Boulevard and didn’t see an oncoming SUV driving north.
Leslie Williams, 51, of Palm Coast, was driving her 2016 Honda. As Sanford broke her right of way, Williams’s car struck Sanford’s Toyota on the rear passenger door, sending both vehicles spinning and coming to rest within the intersection facing south. The roads were wet from periods of driving rain. It’s not clear if it was raining at the exact moment of the crash, though there were long stretches of driving rain before and after it. Williams suffered no injuries.
The crash was reported at 8:07 p.m. A Flagler County Sheriff’s deputy was first at the scene, followed by four other sheriff’s units, including Sheriff Rick Staly, who was conducting one of his regular Friday evening patrols. “We worked a lot of wrecks last night, but unfortunately we have this one that was fatal,” Staly said. “That was about the third wreck I checked out.” He’d been to one at Church on the Rock further north on U.S. 1 and at Bridgehaven Drive before the Seminole Woods crash.
He described the scene. “By the time I got there two deputies and a sergeant there,” Staly said, referring to Sgt. Daniel Weaver. Deputies Daniel Malta, Daniel LaVerne and Jacob West all reported to the scene. LaVerne was first there. “The first deputy tried to enter the car from the passenger side but the passenger side was caved in and damaged, so he went around to the driver’s side, the doors were locked, so he broke out the [rear driver’s side] seat window to be able to reach around and unlock the car and try to stabilize the lady and help her breathe until the paramedics could get to her.”
It was evident to the deputy that Sanford had suffered traumatic injuries. She was “non-responsive, but appeared to be breathing,” according to LaVerne’s notes. “At that time I found that the female’s breathing was agonal and that she did not have a pulse. Rescue had arrived on scene at this point and assisted with extracting the female from the vehicle.”
There was an unsuccessful attempt to get an emergency helicopter to the scene. Flagler County’s Fire Flight was out of service and the rain would have likely prevented any of the helicopters in the region from responding. Flagler County Fire Rescue transported Sanford by ground to Halifax hospital in Daytona Beach, where she was later pronounced dead.
The Palm Coast Fire Department and the Palm Coast Fire Police also responded, with the fire police diverting traffic onto Seminole Woods for the rest of the night: the scene was turned over to FHP’s traffic homicide investigators until 11:30 p.m. John’s Towing of Bunnell towed the two vehicles.
“This is the third fatality we’ve had in maybe a week or ten days,” Staly said. “We were doing so well this year, we had 38 fatalities in 2017, we were down to 13 or 14, we’ve now had three almost back to back to back. Most of them are just mistakes. FHP is doing the investigation, but its a reminder to the drivers: it’s holiday season, there’s going to be more traffic, we just need to slow down, be aware, be patient, be aware of your surroundings.”
Eddie Collins, 62, died Thursday evening, several days after suffering critical injuries in a U.S. 1 crash on Monday. Joseph Faircloth, 38, was killed in a motorcycle crash on Rickenbacker Drive in Palm Coast early the morning of Dec. 7.
Concerned Citizen says
My condolences to the family for their loss.
Two things this county needs desperately.
1.) A Trauma Center. We are growing and have a large number of incidents that warrant the extra expense. I have worked in both Law Enforcement and Fire Rescue. Often times seconds matter and Halifax is a haul by ground transport.
2.) We need Fire Flight back on 24 hour service. Again when a trauma call is issued seconds matter. Even if it was good flying weather last night it takes time to get out of county air support. Our neighbors have excellent aircraft and are great about mutual aid.
However the citizens of this county deserve to have adequate coverage of emergency services. Why should we suffer because of budget cuts?
This is something that our BOCC needs to consider.
Richard says
My sincere condolences to her family and friends. Praying that they find peace and comfort during this tragic time in their lives. Accidental and sudden loss of a loved one is so very difficult. I’ve been in those shoes.
Lnzc says
My condolences to family
We need the trauma center in palm Coast
TheTruth says
I agree, we need a Trauma Center in Flagler County, get with the times this area has grown and is continue to grow. Do what is right for the citizens of this county.
Anonymous says
RIP. Sometimes it’s best to stay off the roads when it’s raining like it was last night, too many drivers don’t exercise appropriate caution.
Bc. says
So sorry for your loss may she Rest In Peace. PALM COAST AND FLAGLER COUNTY NEED A TRAMA UNIT ASAP. !!!!!!!!
The original woody says
It’s always sad when a life is lost on our roadway’s but when a triple threat is in motion odds are greater.When darkness,bad weather and senior drivers sometimes those odds are hard to over come.
The Geode says
Thank you for the Wiki Link to “agonal breathing”. I learned something new, today.
Concerned res says
Trauma center urgently needed.
Our political leaders are a joke.
More concerned about photo ops than their constituents.
HonkeyDude says
1st and foremost condolences to all those involved and their families during the holiday season. … 2nd…. Round a bout ASAP…. I will apologize for the 1 bad joke and I will stop there without getting into texting, drinking, blame game. Love and cherish your family and other’s families during the holiday season. Merry Christmas and to all a happy holiday’s.
J says
Further proof that these intersections need left turn signals that do more than flash yellow. Another senseless death. And FDOT’S response is to install roundabouts. People cannot properly negotiate the one near Petsmart and the one being planned for the intersection at US1/Old Dixie Highway/County road 325 is the wrong solution. A traffic light with properly working turn signals is what’s needed, not a roundabout.
Concerned Citizen says
My Sincere Condolences to her family. Praying all is well with the other driver as well..It’s so hard and devastating when you lose a loved one unexpectedly. Losing a loved one period is hard as well. May she S.I.P.
Concerned Citizen says
I agree. We need a Trauma Unit.. Palm Coast is growing so fast and we need to be up to part with the growth and everything else that comes with it. We loose a lot of money going to another county supporting them as far as paying the bills.
Come on Palm Coast Head people City Officials. Time for a plan and Change. See what you all can do to improve our city.
Jane Gentile-Youd says
Could Ms . Sanford be alive if Florida Hospital Flagler had a trauma center? They don’t pay a dime in property taxes – millions $$a year they manage to avoid paying because they have a ‘religious exemption’. They are getting away with their kissy poo donations which is a pittance of what they should be giving back to the community which is required in order for them to keep their ‘exemption’. Our helicopter does not fly from 8PM to 8AM and hasn’t for years now. Who is going to be next? You? Me?
Every single car crash victim is taken to the only trauma center – Halifax (and only by air from 8am to 8pm).
It’s time our elected officials make an effort to insist Flagler Hospital add a trauma center, and a maternity center Until then our helicopter should be ready for takeoff 24/7. NO EXCUSES- one death is too many
PeachesMcGee says
The average yearly cost to operate a Level I Trauma Center is 34 million and 20 million for a Level II Center in 2010 dollars. This doesn’t include a new building that can support high acuity patients.
Diane Hartnett says
Having a trauma center was the first thing that came to mind when I read about the plans to build a free-standing ER near the Matanzas Woods exit of I95. In critical cases, seconds count, and a drive to Halifax could mean life or death. The location would be perfect, and this area is in dire need of a closer Trauma Center. BOCC, please be reasonable and change those ER plans to Trauma Center plans! As a taxpayer and voter in this County, I insist! And, I can see that I am not alone.