A woman was transported to Florida Hospital Flagler following a two-car wreck just before noon Saturday at Belle Terre Parkway and Ponde de Leon Drive in Palm Coast. The second driver, Christopher Maher, 18, of Palm Coast, was shaken but unhurt, though his car was severely damaged.
Witnesses told a Florida Highway Patrol investigator at the scene that the woman at the wheel of a Saturn was pulling out of Ponce de Leon, making a left turn to go south on Belle Terre, when she took the far lane instead of the inside lane. On such turns, it is illegal to take the far lane.
By doing so, the woman pulled immediately in front of Maher, who tried to apply his brakes, but there was not enough room, and the road was slick from continuous rain. The two vehicles collided, sending the Saturn into the median. The Saturn ended up facing north. Maher’s Nissan Sentra ended up in the shoulder of the southbund lanes of Belle Terre. Maher had been on his way to work.
The woman, whose identity was not available at the scene, was transported to Florida Hospital Flagler.
The FHP investigator said that if the investigation concludes that the woman pulled out into the far lane as witnesses say, she will be cited.
The wreck reduced traffic in both directions to one lane, though by 12:30 p.m. traffic was flowing freely. Aside from FHP, responding to the scene were a sheriff’s office COP unit, the Palm Coast Fire Police, Flagler County Fire Rescue and the Palm Coast Fire Department.
Within the same hour, another minor traffic accident snared traffic further north on Belle Terre, near Park View Drive.
Charles Ericksen Jr says
The accident, just North of Buddy Taylor, seemed to be a one car incident, where a southbound driver swerved onto the median, to avoid a read end collision. Mud and dirt, but no other vehicle. Could have been worse, if they had gone into the Northbound lane. Too fast for wet conditions.
Steve Wolfe says
I always wonder if distraction plays a role in such accidents. Surely everyone knows that 2 objects can’t occupy the same space at the same time, so the lady apparently did not see (nor look for) the oncoming traffic she was attempting to join. In my experience, drivers often fail to notice my vehicle when changing lanes or pulling out because, I notice as I look inside their car, they are distracted by their cell phone, texting, digging in a purse, applying makeup, or even their loud music. I would like to see a “cell phone in use (yes or no)” comment added to traffic accident reports. Although more PSA’s are appearing about the subject of texting while driving, I don’t think enough people get it yet. Texting while driving is almost the same as firing a weapon randomly.
anonymous says
Carless driver pulling out into the wrong lane always happens. Two more things for the record my fellow citizens of Flagler county. It is a against the law to switch lanes approaching a traffic light, you know when you get impatient behind someone driving up to a light and you immediately switch positions behind them before you reach the light even with a signal it’s wrong. Also FL law even if not raining more so raining your lights are supposed to be on when there is no visible sunlight or however it’s described, you see rain legally your lights are supposed to be on . Don’t drive two miles an hour in the rain and every time you hiccup hit the brake cause you think your being a defensive driver with no lights on.
Sloop John B says
I see this happen quite frequently while driving Belle Terre. Drivers pull out of the side streets and go to the outside lane forcing traffic behind them to slow down. Then that driver often swings over to the right lane in front of your car. Nobody signals anymore either. I guess they are too lazy or think they are saving the car’s battery.
Yet, all this City thinks about doing is getting Red Light runners when the stretch of Belle Terre has speeders, drivers not stopping at intersections coming unto Belle Terre and drivers switching lanes to get ahead. Very few drive the 20 MPH past Buddy Taylor Middle School. This City is a joke when it comes to traffic enforcement but they sure rack up plenty of $158 summonses for Tallahassee. I think the reason Manfre doesn’t enforce traffic is because summonses reflect on the incumbent at the polls. So, now we blame Red Light cameras instead of Manfre.
Mike says
People do not follow traffic laws, they turn wide into a two lane roadway, it is illegal to turn into the outside lane while making a turn, and you must follow the lane of traffic. Once you swing wide right you have given up your lane of travel and even if you have someone pass you on the lane you were in originally you will be at fault if struck. A prime example of this type of behavior is at the corner of East Hampton & Belle Terre, going south and turning left to go into Town Center, 9 out of 10 cars turn right into the outside lane, people have become lazy drivers and unfocused on traffic laws. Driving should be considered a privilege not a right, people need to start learning to drive again, every cell phone should have a chip that disables its texting use at 10 MPH or above
Rocky R. says
Ah yes, so anybody occupying any vehicle as a passenger can’t utilize their phone. What a viable solution.