Last Updated: Friday, 6:20 a.m.
Sharlyn Johnson, 60, of Daytona Beach, was killed Thursday evening (Nov. 14) in a two-vehicle t-bone crash at the intersection of U.S. 1 and Eagle Rock Road, just north of Plantation Bay, and another injured.
Christen Barney, 22, of Bunnell, a nurse, had just gotten off work at the hospital in Ormond Beach and was heading home, north on U.S. 1, at the wheel of her dark Blue Ford Focus. She wasn’t speeding, according to witnesses driving behind her, and she was not impaired, according to a Florida Highway Patrol investigator at the scene.
Johnson was the sister of Earl Johnson, a senior administrator in the Flagler County school district and head of leadership development who previously was the principal at Matanzas High School.
Johnson was at the wheel of a red Dodge Neon, coming out of Eagle Rock. There’s a stop sign at the intersection with U.S. 1. It isn’t clear if Johnson blew through the stop sign or stopped then mis-judged the Ford’s distance. “It’s happened before where people misjudge the traffic, headlights as farther than they are,” the homicide traffic investigator at the scene said. Either way, Johnson pulled out to cross U.S. 1 and make a left onto U.S. 1 south, violating the Ford driver’s right of way, the investigator said.
“It’s a dark road, but it does have one street light,” the investigator said. The stretch south of the intersection was in pitch darkness, the darkness made worse by an overcast, drizzly sky.
The Ford struck the Dodge’s driver’s side, caving it in. The Ford traveled a few dozen feet more and stopped on the left side of the highway, its front end severely damaged. Its air bags had all deployed. Barney was “shook up,” the investigator said. Her father drove her to AdventHealth Palm Coast, he said, to get checked out. Both drivers had worn their seat belts.
Johnson died at the scene. She had been visiting her mother, and had lost her father about a year ago, an investigator said. Johnson’s mother was not at home at the time of the crash. Neighbors gathered at the intersection for several hours, awaiting her return–neighbors and authorities did not know where she was and could not reach her–to ensure that they could comfort her.
The Palm Coast Fire Department, the Palm Coast Fire Police, Flagler County Fire Rescue and the sheriff’s office all responded, as did FHP. The medical examiner arrived at the scene around 9 p.m., though the examiner’s team that was to remove the body to St. Augustine got there after 10 p.m. Saxon’s, the tow company from Bunnell, towed the vehicles. U.S. 1 northbound was entirely shut down from that intersection after 8:30 p.m., and remained closed well past 10 p.m. Traffic was rerouted south and required to travel north on I-95.
Jennifer says
All they have done is spent a lot of money to make this dangerous intersection even more dangerous. People do not know how to use a round about!!!!
FlaglerLive says
There is no roundabout at that intersection.
palmcoaster says
Roads should not be modified over accidents caused by driver errors and or drivers violating the laws.
Is very tragic this lady lost her life and hope for the family to have peace in their mourning.
ann says
People are not used to the daylight savings thing and don’t realize they can’t see as well! I hope they vote to STOP changing the clocks in FLA—
Eric says
What does daylight savings have to do with this accident? People will drive at night with or without daylight savings.
Peggy says
They have voted it through. Now it goes to Congress
Gary R says
People are not use to the daylight savings thing? That is the funniest comment I have ever heard. LOL! The driver? Let’s see 60 years old minus 16 years equals 44 years of driving and she is not use to daylight savings? Blame the accident on everything but what caused the accident. The driver.
Mary Fusco says
Yeah that is what it is LOL. What happens when it is dark in the morning? With or without daylight savings time, in the winter in FL it is dark around 7 anyway. Maybe not pulling out in front of cars going 65 or more would be an answer. I have had cars pull out in front of me from side roads on US 1 many times and there was no car behind me. Waiting a couple of minutes could save your life.
Breacya says
Lord comfort my family during the loss of my Auntie!
Crystal says
My thoughts and prayers are with you and your family. I am very sorry for your loss. I am also sorry for the other driver involved in the accident as well. This is so sad 😞
Native says
This is not where the roundabout is.
Tyler says
Eagle Rock Rd is close to the Love’s gas station in Ormond but its still Flagler Co.
John Dough says
It’s about 6 miles north of Loves
Flagler Resident says
Will be praying for her family during this time. As for driving around a round about if you cant manage that you do not need to be driving.
Richard says
No need for any roundabout at that intersection. People coming out of the Eagle Rock Ranch Association Complex just need to pay attention to their driving and use plenty of caution before pulling out onto US-1. When in doubt WAIT!
Michele says
I Agree Jennifer above!
Stop With All The Roundabouts!
Red Light Is All That Is Needed!
CB from PC says
Day in and day out drivers ignore stop signs, lights, double yellow lines for no passing. In FL traffic law there is no Right of Way. Time to apply criminal penalties to at fault crashes involving injuries or death. Jail time is only way to make the point:
“According to the Florida Driver’s Handbook, Florida law actually gives no one the right of way. Florida law only states who must yield or give up the right-of-way.”
Freedom says
That’s what they do for drunk drivers not mistaken judgment on dark roads with dew.
CB from PC says
Well Freedom, just because the at fault driver is sober, doesn’t make the not at fault driver any less injured or dead. I was hit by a driver running a red light traveling 65 mph. I had the green light entering the intersection. It put an end to a lot of life’s enjoyments.
If you can’t see, don’t chance it.
BS in PC says
So postpone the funeral and put the at fault driver’s body in the Flagler County jail?
CB from PC says
I will explain.
In this case the Nurse could have lost her life because of the at fault driver.
See this crap everyday around here, and it is time for at fault drivers WHO SURVIVE causing injuries or death to do some jail time due to their mistakes.
Class dismissed.
Trailer Bob says
So sorry for all involved. Have to be careful and watchful when driving, especially in Palm Coast. Everyone is in a hurry, OR, driving under the speed limit, which is a recipe for collisions.
GLORIA MILLER says
2 Sundays ago I came out of Eagle rock myself. In Sharlyns defense, it was black. No lights except for headlights. I had to lean forward in my car to even see traffic and inch my car up a little because the bushes on the left as you’re looking left obstructs your view. The oncoming traffic was speeding like hell, all 5 of them. When it went completely black again I hurried across and sat in the medium area, until the opposite speeding vehicle moved and it was black on the opposite side, so li could turn left. It was a frightening experience, because of it being pitch black on that stretch of highway. WHAT IS WRONG WITH PAL COAST AND BUNNEL, WHY ARE THERE NO LOGHTED POLES TO INCREASE VISIBILITY? WE ARE VERY SAD BECAUSE OF OUR LOST LOVED ONE. 😧😢😢
Jane Gentile-Youd says
FDOT has refused for years to lower the speed limit on this stretch of road to 50 – 55mph despite the number of fatalities resulting from T-bone crashes. This is a rural road in an urban area with no lighting and it took years to get a warning sign for Plantation Bay entrance ( name changed to Plantation Bay Road from Adenham to get a sign so people wouldn’t pass the south entrance). Despite many written pleas the speed limit is now 60 and there is no flashing light near Eagle Rock road like we got for Plantation Bay Road. Cars and trucks regularly speed up to 80 and often go through the red light installed at US1 and Plantation Bay Road but Eagle Rock has no traffic warnings. A T-bone crash killed two Plantation Bay ladies before FDOT put up a ight.
FDOT is responsible for ignoring the dangerous situation throughout this stretch of US1 . Their studies they stay don’t warrant anymore traffic controls.
I have emails to and from them going back 10 years ignoring pleas to reduce speed to 50 and add lighting to this stretch of road which abuts densely populated residential areas. Maybe this latest accident will wake them up to pay more attention to the innocent lives lost due mostly to their negligence above all. My heart goes out to all families and friends and I hope Ms. Johnson’s untimely death will wake up FDOT that yet it is mostly their fault and their alone that she died such a tragic death.
GLORIA MILLER says
On behalf of the Johnson Family, Thank you so much for caring. If I had not experienced that stretch of darkness myself, I would not know how imperative it is for this to be researched and considered to prevent other untimely deaths. God bless you for your concern.
Barbara J Davidson says
I live in Eagle Rock and agree there needs to be lighting in this area. It is very dark. Also signs warning intersection ahead slow for oncoming traffic. BD
SAFE DRIVER says
All people need to do is pay attention. Isn’t your life worth it?
GLORIA MILLER says
It’s not just paying attention. Go to Eagle Rocks entrance, turn to come out at night and you will see there are other factors. 1. Obscurity. Trees need to be cut back, 2. Lighting. its darker than dark 3. Speed. If there was a traffic light, you would not have to do the unthinkable, which is judging speed and distance. THIS IS A NO-NO FOR ANY DRIVER. it’s easy to cast judgement when you havent gone through a thing. Thanks for your opinion anyway.
ASF says
That is an extremely dangerous intersection…poorly planned and with not much room to correct if one makes an error.
Freedom says
You can’t see anything at night on that road. The speed limit is 55, knowing others drive 66/70mph. Ormond/Flagler have dangerous roads especially the country sides. Make a change.
Outsider says
I am sorry Ms. Johnson lost her life; she made a fatal mistake and my condolences go out to the family. That being said, people need to police themselves, and not drive when the conditions are too challenging or one realizes they just are not up to the task anymore. I know the Barney family and Christen could have been injured or worse, and will now have to live with this. I was driving up U.S. 1 with a pickup truck, a loaded horse trailer, with my lights on, during the day, when an elderly driver blew the stop sign at Matanzas Woods and pulled right out in front of me. I had the horn blowing, lights flashing and had to swerve to the left lane to avoid hitting this vehicle. The man then sped past me in the right lane, not even gesturing an “I’m sorry,” with his “I’m so blind I have to wear these giant dark sunglasses” sunglasses on. If I didn’t swerve my truck and trailer would have crushed his little car with him and his wife in it. I can guarantee you it would have been fatal for them. This man, and many others should not be on the roads.
Yvonne Ceraio says
At that spot pulling out of Matanzas Woods onto Us 1 Ive noticed that there is a bit of a curve on US1 that makes it difficult to see on coming vehicles not to mention the speed limit the vehicle may be traveling. I have seen many accidents there. Passed a Biker dead on the intersection during the morning one time there. It is a tricky spot. Lets face facts driving fast and seeing properly at night probably was compromised on both sides that why they call it a accident. Stop the hate!
P says
Such a sad situation. It is never easy losing our loved ones. So sorry for the Johnson Family. My deepest sympathy goes out to them. Christen is a wonderful caring young woman. This will truly affect her for a vary long time. Prayers for all involved.
Midnight Rider says
If the residents there think this is such a “dangerous intersection”, then the residents there need not wait on the government and other people to install their own lighting and safety measures. Pull out your checkbooks and get it done. Those aren’t poor people in that neighborhood.
This is a terrible terrible accident unfortunately created by someone not yielding to oncoming traffic, and that person lost their life. Now another very young person will have to deal with this traumatic experience for the rest of her life, through zero fault of her own.
There are dark roads all over this planet. Half of our lives are literally spent in the dark. If you can’t see well enough in the dark, then stay the hell away from behind the wheel of the death machines. Hire an UberLyft goddammit.
Concerned Citizen says
I am sorry that a life was taken. It sounds like a misjudgement on Ms. Johnsons part pulling out. And it ended up being fatal on her part.
@ CB from PC
From what the reports are saying Christine was not driving impaired or distracted. I’m not sure how she should be held criminally liable for someone pulling out into her lane. Sometimes someone makes a poor choice and it involves someone else. I’m sure she will live with this the rest of her life. Judging her on media platforms won’t help.
CB from PC says
I will explain.
In this case the Nurse could have lost her life because of the at fault driver.
See this crap everyday around here, and it is time for at fault drivers WHO SURVIVE causing injuries or death to do some jail time due to their mistakes.
Class dismissed.
Hmmm says
I dont understand how people are blaming this on it being dark. Acting like street lights will help. If you cant see the bright headlights of a vehicle in completely darkness, how will you see them in semi light, gloomy lighting that will actually take away from the headlights effect. I feel bad for her and family. Cut the bushes back like people stated, but theres really no dangerous section of us1 in flagler county. Everything is visible for probably a least a half mile in each direction. Its not the road design. Its the people.
Cynthia Slater says
My prayers go out to the Johnson family. It is easy to blame the victim until something like this happens to your family. There should be more research into this area that appears to be hazardous roadway.
Candy says
Hate to tell you but the speed limit changes just BEFORE the entrance to Eagle Rock from 60mph to 65mph. I live in Eagle Rock and we complained but they wouldn’t move the sign 100 ft. past the entrance. We are very sad for the Johnson Family.
Lisa Scartelli says
So sorry, very sorry. I was the eye witness for the 2 women that were T-boned at Plantation Bay before the red light was installed. I would always tell the guards, someone is going to get killed trying to turn left outta here!!!! Sadly, 2 women were killed and I got to witness the tragedy.
Mary Fusco says
Sadly, you won’t get killed if you WAIT. If you pull out in front of oncoming cars, chances are you will. I’ve been driving 50 years without an accident. I drove in snow and ice and traffic in NY. This crap is just aggressive driving where there is really no traffic to speak of.
Bill says
So just HOW would a light pole help at this intersection at night when people dont even see the oncoming HEADLIGHTS??????