Last Updated: 12:16 p.m.
Traffic update, 10:20 a.m.—After reopening briefly, State Road 100 between CR305 and Water Oak Road was again closed to enable Florida Highway Patrol investigators to carry out their work. There is a lot of debris on the road, Sheriff Rick Staly said. Traffic is being diverted down 305 to Canal Avenue, then back to Water Oak.
Three people have lost their lives in two unrelated car crashes within minutes of each other in heavy fog on State Road 100 early this morning, causing the road to be closed in both directions from the Putnam County line to County Road 305, Sheriff Rick Staly said.
It is the gravest vehicle crash on Flagler roads since four people, including two children, lost their lives in April 2020 on the same road, in Andalusia.
The first incident, a head-on crash, took place at 5:45 at 100 and County Road 305 when a Dodge Charger and a Jeep collided. A passenger in the Charger died. The drivers of the two cars and possibly a third individual suffered injuries and were transported to hospitals: the crash required three ambulances. Authorities requested an emergency helicopter, but none could fly due to weather. That crash caused authorities to close 100 at Water Oak Road, west to the county line.
“It looks like the first crash at 100 and 305 was an accident of somebody drifting across the center line during the fog and struck another car head-on,” Staly said, “and again, we’re not the investigators, so all this could change.”
Barely 15 minutes later, an SUV and a van were involved in the second crash. “That occurred at State Road 100 and Water Oak and that one appears to be a head-on collision, probably somebody improperly passing but we’ll let FHP investigate and determined exactly what happened,” the sheriff said. “That one has a confirmed fatality and may result in a second fatality. State Road 100 is completely closed from State Road 305 west to the Putnam County line. We’re not directing traffic down into the Mondex and trying to come around because it is so foggy here, and clearly fog has played a role in those fatalities. The fog is starting to burn off now.” The sheriff, who lives on the West Side, said the area has been foggy for a few days.
Staly said in that crash, the individual who appears to have caused it “was driving extremely reckless and was passing cars in the dense fog.”
Putnam emergency personnel responded to the second crash, along with Flagler sheriff’s deputies and the Florida Highway Patrol. One of the vehicles in the second crash was briefly on fire, and both drivers were unconscious as rescuers attempted to get get to them.
A school district spokesman reported at 8:20 a.m. that there was “minimal to no impact for our buses. They’re able to utilize alternate routes around the area in question.”
Drivers are urged to avoid the area, with SR100 backed up in both directions from the points where they have been shut down. “Palm Coast Fire Police are assisting us with traffic and I have multiple deputies on scene,” the sheriff said, noting that there are no easy ways to get around the blockages except through wide detours. He said traffic management at the scene did not want to divert traffic into the Mondex if it was going to cause further hazards in foggy conditions, now that rescuers have their hands full.
Flagler County Fire Rescue personnel took the following shots:
Alonzo says
Fog, slippery roads, careless driving is a deadly mix. Look at the result. Please be careful out there.
MC rider says
I was riding my Motorcycle from Palatka to Palm Coast Wednesday on CR204 in the fog, and a farm trailer full of cabbage being pulled by a farm tractor was stopped dead in the road, thank god I ride BMW and have triple disk brakes with ABS Antilock, first time I ever really really needed that, wow. Close Call I was almost a rear hood ornament.
Mary Fusco says
This is where defensive driving comes to play. Slow the hell down and look at the big picture.
sad reader says
This is horrible tragedy just looking at these picture’s ! Prayers for the families this accident involved. There isn’t a justified reason for this to have happened, fog or no fog, but with it being foggy, you’d think extra caution would be warranted ? I can’t fathom the drivers being anything but cautious, but whatever the reason, I hope anyone reading this article and seeing the aftermath will be thinking about themselves and others as they drive this route, or anywhere as a matter of fact, and what happened to these individuals. It can be prevented and everyone gets to where they were headed to! I know it sounds horrible, but back in the day I can remember seeing billboards with pictures of crashes like this, warning drivers this could be them ! Maybe we need to start advertising something similar to the billboards ! Maybe it’ll save a life !! Too many preventable accidents because of not putting all of your attention into driving the vehicle, instead playing on your phones, eating, doing anything other then driving and paying attention to your surroundings ! God help us when the driverless cars start taking over our roads !!
Again, prayers to the families, and RIP to the victims !
Heartbroken says
I know one of the victims and she is leaving behind 2 babies and a spouse who is deeply hurt. Lets all be kind and not make assumptions.
Driving here is not safe says
Traffic in Palm Coast is chaotic and drivers have little or no regard for their own safety or that of others.
Why are so many vehicles allowed to ride so loud? They drive up and down Belle Terre etc changing lanes at top speed and spewing exhaust. Their vehicles far exceed the legal decibel level. Why isn’t the sheriff’s dept doing anything about this? These are residential areas so why aren’t they required to ride quietly? Whether it’s a pick up, motorcycle, or small car. It’s obnoxious, bad for the environment and disturbing the peace.
People tailgate, pull out in front of you, setting up the perfect recipe for an accident.
Start enforcing the noise ordinance. Palm Coast has become an unpleasant place to live for this and other reasons.
Land of no turn signals says says
The burning of all the trees with heavy smoke from the builders can”t be helping.
McDonald says
The person deceased is my neice and leaves behind two babies. For whatever reason it happened our families are devastated.
Denali says
For years there has been a statute on the books in Florida prohibiting the alteration of a vehicle’s exhaust system to increase the sound levels beyond the factory levels. Our Sheriff has made the decision that this along with dozens of other traffic laws do not need to be enforced in Flagler County. Turn signals, right-on-red, stop signs, yield signs, stop lights, speed limits, impaired driving, reckless driving, negligent driving, texting/driving, putting on make-up or shaving while driving – guess these are just suggestions in Flagler.
Someone says
What does the sound the sound have to do with anything 🤔
TR says
This is tragic in many ways. I pray for the families.
“Driving here is not safe” What in the hell does loud cars have to do with this article.
Why not stay on topic. I don’t mind loud vehicles (car or motorcycles) because with all the other
distractions drivers are doing. A loud vehicle lets them know others are on the road and are near by.
Land of no turn signals says
I don’t disagree with your statement, but noise had nothing to do with these terrible accidents. Loud exhausts seem not to matter to Staley. Probably lives in a gated community with no noise.
Bob J says
Exactly. Back in 2000 our governor decided to remove annual safety inspections and emissions testing because it was a cost burden on the state. As a result of this act you can drive any vehicle that is that is unsafe on the road and is a danger to others. Other states I’ve lived in still do inspections and emissions and the roads are a safer place. The lost revenue of citing these violations does not seem to matter to the county officials. Mabey the paperwork is to be daunting for FCSO. They cant make headlines for these, but sit on the side of the road with their plate reader and hope the get a felon to fill the jail. Oh. And don’t forget the law that requires drivers to drive with headlights on in the rain. These agencies that say they need money could support themselves with all of the vehicle infractions in this county, and make it a safer place to drive.
dawn says
prayers for you and your family. Losing a loved one no matter what the reason is a pain I wish for no one. Her husband and children dont deserve that pain.