On the eve of an extended Independence Day weekend expected to break a travel record in Florida, Palm Coast and Flagler County roads were the scene of a succession of three unrelated crashes in the space of a few hours this morning, resulting in two deaths and two men transported to hospitals.
The first crash was reported to 911 at 7:47 a.m. as a vehicle-versus-pedestrian on Pine Lakes Parkway and Wellington Drive, near the golf course.
A minivan driven by a 91-year-old Palm Coast man was traveling toward Belle Terre Parkway when it struck an elderly man who had apparently been crossing the road. The collision threw the man against the hood and the middle of the windshield of the minivan. “That kind of injury you can see on the windshield, we call that spidering,” Palm Coast Fire Department Battalion Chief Patrick Juliano, who was at the scene, said. “You can see the significant damage on the front end of that vehicle.”
The victim was reported to 911 to be non-responsive and not breathing and had died before firefighter-paramedics arrived. Firefighters secured the area, mitigating other risks–including disconnecting the car’s battery to prevent secondary incidents–then turned the scene over to the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office, which then turned it over to the Florida Highway Patrol for its traffic homicide investigation.
FHP and 911 dispatch notes had initially referred to the victim as a woman, whose identity FHP said was not yet known. FHP later corrected the victim’s sex to a man.
Traffic was closed in both directions on Pine Lakes, with traffic from Belle Terre diverted to Wynnfield Drive and traffic toward Belle Terre diverted at Wellington Drive.
The investigation was still ongoing when a driver who’d taken Wynnfield had a medical episode, Juliano said, and crashed against two mailboxes and a utility pole in the front yard of a house between Warner Place and Waters Drive. That crash took place at 12:08 p.m.
Paramedics helped the man out of his car and to a rescue unit. “One patient was transported, no significant damage or significant injuries,” Juliano said, though the crash caused some congestion on Wynnfield due to the increased traffic from the diversion.
The second fatality was reported to 911 at 8:21 a.m. from State Road 100 at Black Point Road, just west of Deen Road. The crash involved a semi truck and a pick-up truck, and resulted in the death of the semi truck driver, according to Flagler County Fire Rescue Chief Michael Tucker
The semi was a loaded logging truck. As FHP described the collision, the Chevrolet pick-up was traveling onto State Road 100 from Black Point Road. The Mack semi was traveling westbound 100. The Chevrolet pulled in front of the Mack, causing a t-bone collision, sending both vehicles off the road and colliding with a tree.
The cab of the semi was separated from the rest of the truck after logs had crashed into the cab, which ended on its side.
The 52-year-old driver of the semi truck, from Palatka, was pronounced deceased at the scene at 8:30 a.m. The 31-year-old driver of the pick-up truck, from Bunnell, was flown by Flagler County FireFlight as a trauma alert to Halifax hospital in Daytona Beach. State Road 100 was closed in both directions, causing considerable congestion.
The two fatalities today bring the total number of deaths on Flagler County roads to 12 so far this year, including two pedestrians.
Juliano cautioned holiday travelers. “Be patient, give enough time to travel, be aware of parking especially if we have construction going on,” he said, referring to driving in Palm Coast especially. “There is going to be be a lot of heavy traffic on the south end of the city on July 4, so really be patient, allow traffic to move.” The July 4 fireworks are scheduled at the county airport at 9 p.m. on July 4. Scores of public safety personnel and volunteers will be regulating the event’s traffic. “Just listen to their instructions,” Juliano said.
AAA, the auto club. projects that more than 4.6 million Floridians will travel at least 50 miles from home for the Independence Day period, which AAA considers to be from June 27 through Sunday, July 5. More than 4 million will drive to their destination, with the rest flying or taking cruises. The numbers will set a new travel record.
JR says
I’m sorry for both parties involved but under no circumstances should a 91 year old person still be driving. You can do whatever test you want and the results will show a severely diminished reaction time compared to lesser aged drivers.
JimboXYZ says
But the pedestrian (age undisclosed) was crossing Pine Lakes Parkway & Wellington. Where the bike path/trail is there, as far away from the Pine Lakes Parkway, a pedestrian needs to own being on a 45 mph posted speed limit there ? I’ll let you Google Map that to see how absurd it was that a pedestrian was on the Pine Lakes Parkway to be a direct hit for center of a mini-van. That’s not a 91 year old’s issue of ability to drive on the road as much as it’s a pedestrian’s issue of ability to cross the street. Before I take another’s DL away for being able to conduct themselves for their daily errands, the details of the accident have to be more concrete. The photo provided for the article, I just don’t see any evidence of the mini-van driving off the road. All we can expect from any motorist, is that they maintain their lane & speed limit. Perhaps the pedestrian would have been better served looking in both directions before crossing the street there ? I think as more detail;s emerge of the accident, we’re going to find that this was a matter of a pedestrian that didn’t yield right of way to a motorist. It’s too easy to blame the mini-van driver of being too old. I could see if the motorist was on the bike path/trail there, but that obviously is not the case from the evidence presented in the photo above. This just reminds me of the Bunnell bar patrons that were hit on US-1. Who knows if those folks were impaired pedestrians ? And that’s a distinct possibility with this pedestrian just the same ? There is no crosswalk there at Pine Lakes Parkway & Wellington Drive from the Google Maps street view. In fact every intersection simply has no crosswalk lines for the road way & at several intersections, the parkway has turn lanes and the road is even wider while still having a bike path/trail that is far from the parkway.
As for the individual with the medical episode ?no age reported for that motorist. But hey, there are quite a few folks that are significantly younger than 91 that have had strokes, heart attacks or any other medical episode(s) while operating a motor vehicle, even in just inside their own homes ? I do know my father was in his 90’s. Always maintained his lane at the speed limit. We have 20 year olds that don’t drive that well. And when I reflect back to the only accident my Dad ever had in the decades of observing his driving (my lifetime), he was rear ended by a truck that tailgated him in that moment that he was stopping for a light that changed from yellow to red. I wouldn’t ask him for his DL that day because someone else couldn’t operate their own vehicle. My brother’s were after Dad’s DL. Then I asked both of them, when was the last time any of them exceeded the speed limit ? That ended the debate. My Dad was even cognizant enough to prefer that I drive him for the errands he needed to go for. He was 95+ yo. In a pinch, him having a valid DL, anything I needed to be driven around for, he was more than capable of driving. He had a Genesis with plenty of HP to spare too, nice luxury car. He could have easily kept pace with the speeders & tailgaters in that.
TR says
Everyone be safe if you going to travel this weekend. Not just in Flagler county but in traveling anywhere. I will not be traveling anywhere just to make sure I don’t become a victim or statistic from an idiot who couldn’t pay attention and didn’t care about anyone but themself. Happy 250th Anniversary everyone.
Atwp says
Please be careful out there. Sad situations.
Jim says
It is so sad to read this, thoughts and preyers. I have to drive a lot here a lot and seems like there is an accident once a week coming off the exit from 95 onto 100 west bound. Always someone smashing into the back of the vehicle trying to merge. They need to put a flashing light at this piss pour design of a intersection. There has to have been a hundred fender benders since they opened it.
HayRide says
I’ve seen a lady drive down the wrong side of the road on 100, even with painted lines; people can’t negotiate that wide intersection
NJ says
Another Logging Truck DEATH in the state with NO vehicle inspections!!! Time for the state to demand Safety Protection Bars/Rails for the Logging Truck Drivers!!
Irwin M. Fletcher says
Florida is like the Wild West of autos. No safety inspections, bald tires no brakes, no hood, no bumper, no windshield, no lights, no mufflers, no problem…..drive fast and take chances. Maybe inspections could fund the tax deficit that’s about to get voted in.
Bill Boots says
driving these unsafe vehicles with expired insurance
JimboXYZ says
But Bunnell man in the pickup truck was the one that pulled out in front of the logging truck.
“The semi was a loaded logging truck. As FHP described the collision, the Chevrolet pick-up was traveling onto State Road 100 from Black Point Road. The Mack semi was traveling westbound 100. The Chevrolet pulled in front of the Mack, causing a t-bone collision, sending both vehicles off the road and colliding with a tree.”
“The 31-year-old driver of the pick-up truck, from Bunnell…”
Bill Boots says
maybe we should be retesting 31 yr olds ‘JR says’?
Doug says
91 years old and still driving?
Jenn says
I’m a senior citizen, but perhaps it’s time to require senior drivers past, say, 80-85 to retest with emphasis on reflexes, response times, and vision.
There’s the possibility that this advanced-age driver will face charges,and another family has lost someone they love. Sad all around.
TR says
I have been saying this for years. But I say have them retested every 3 year after 65 then every 2 years after 80 and every years after that until they are no longer with us.
Pastor Barry says
I’m a senior citizen – 70 years old later this fall. There is no way that a 91 year old person should be driving. His attempt at being independent cost the life of another individual. Older people are responsible for 14% of all fatal accidents. Drivers over age 80 are responsible for almost twice the fatalities of those 20 to 24. Loved ones should speak up when they see an impaired individual that still drives. I’m sure that if this driver’s family answered truthfully they would say that this 91 year old man should have had his keys taken away.
I believe that once someone reaches the age of 65 they should be required to take a drivers test. Then every five years. After 75, they should be required to get a doctor’s examination and a release saying that they are okay to drive. Keep them off the road if they are unable to operate safely.
I doubt any law like this will be introduced until some senator’s or representative’s loved one is harmed or killed by an old age driver who couldn’t safely operate a vehicle at their age. Even then our representatives will pander to AARP and other senior organizations and do their best to keep potential killers on the road with the excuse of their right of independence. (How does a 5 year retest and doctor’s okay hurt their independence? It doesn’t.)
Seniors are too large a voting block for it ever to be possible for our roads and other drivers to be safe from these impaired drivers (killers.) I’m sure that this man had a primary care physician. If that caretaker knew the man was still driving and saw any signs that the 91 year old should not have been driving and didn’t act he should equally be responsible for the pedestrian’s death. It would be interesting to know who the primary care physician was.
If this driver was unable to operate safely he should be taken to court, either criminally and/or civilly, by the family of the dead man and made an example of. I hope that Flagler Live will stay on this story and let us readers know what penalties the driver receives.
When I lived in New York, my 78 year old next door neighbor ran a stop sign and killed a 25 year old man and his 23 year old wife. I had no idea he was still operating a vehicle. I saw him every few days and he could hardly walk. No way could he safely drive a car and no way should he still have had a driver’s license.
It’s a shame what family members allow their seniors to do to the detriment of others.
Over 40 years ago, when we lived in Pittsburgh My wife’s aunt had her driver’s license taken away when her doctor reported her as unable to safely operate a car. That was a wonderful, caring doctor. Unfortunately that didn’t stop the aunt from driving. She still had the car, still had the keys and who was to know,? She caused three accidents before her family found out. Fortunately none of the accidents involved a fatality. But there was still extensive property damage to other individuals cars and property . This aunt may have been nice to others but she certainly did not care for her fellow human beings. If she had been , she wouldn’t have taken the car after her driver’s license was taken away. There are millions of others equally uncaring individuals in our country. To their credit, my brother-in-law disabled the aunt’s car as soon as they found out she was still driving.
It’s a shame what happened to the pedestrian and its outrageous that that 91 year old was so uncaring of others that he was still driving.
John B says
Pierre, what is the purpose of showing the blood stained hood of this minivan? Shame on you but not unexpected from your digital fish wrapper — Shame
JimboXYZ says
From that photo, you can clearly see the mini-van was no where near where any pedestrian should have been to get hit. Since this was a pre-8 AM sunrise accident heading east bound. It doesn’t matter if you 18-91+, if the sun is blinding a motorist, they simply are driving blind. That never worked out well for anyone, regardless of how sharp their reaction time is or isn’t. From the Google Maps Streetview feature there has to be 20+ feet of grass to the bike path/trail. Just don’t see where the 91 year old left the road & traffic lane to hit a pedestrian. Ultimately is a pedestrian responsible for crossing the street during peak traffic hours, 7-8 AM ? There certainly & clearly isn’t a crosswalk there for a 45 mph posted speed limit. This accident is also attibutable to the approved growth, the Vision of 2050. They knew there wasn’t enough money to pull this off, yet here we are. We’ve had at least 3 fatalities from the growth & Vision of 2050. There was an elderly woman that was hit on Royal Palms Parkway between Belle Terre & US-1. There was the 17 year old on his bicycle that got run over by a dump truck leaving a residential. Let’ throw in the ebike issues too for any injuries & fatalities.
STEVE says
What was failed to be reported was the driver of the Chevrolet Pick Up was turning east onto 100 from the south side of 100; the logging truck west heading west. So in my assessment the logging truck had to be in the eastbound lane. Thus, the driver of the pick up did not pull out in front of the logging truck. The logging truck was in the wrong lane causing this terrible accident.
Steve says
Is this something you saw or just reading into the article? I looked at the crash scene myself today and I am confused as to how this happened exactly.