Last Updated: 10:50 a.m.
A 59-year-old Palm Coast resident was killed and two people were in critical condition following in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday morning on U.S. 1 at County Road 200, in the community of Favoretta, just north of Plantation Bay.
The crash took place at 6:28 a.m. It involved a Chevrolet Trail Blazer SUV and a Honda Accord. The Accord was heading southbound. The SUV was heading northbound along a long, straight stretch of U.S. 1, whose four lanes are divided by a grassy median in that area.
A Florida Highway Patrol trooper at the scene said the SUV for unknown reasons swerved into the grassy median, struck a culvert, and overturned into the southbound lanes, crashing into the Honda. The SUV then continued to overturn and ended up in ditch against a utility pole, on the west side of the highway, facing south. It burst into flames.
“Good samaritans pulled the driver out, so they saved his life,” the FHP trooper said. The SUV was charred beyond recognition. A portion of the utility pole was also charred, but remained upright, power lines apparently unaffected. Two witnesses were at the scene, speaking with authorities about an hour after the crash, when half a dozen FHP units had arrived. Flagler County Sheriff’s deputies had first responded. The Palm Coast Fire Department and Flagler County Fire Rescue also responded.
There was just one occupant in the SUV, two in the Honda, the FHP trooper said. The 59-year-old passenger in the Honda was killed: the brunt of the collision was on the Honda’s passenger side. The driver of the Accord is 61 and is also from Palm Coast. The age of the Chevrolet’s driver has not yet been released. Both survivors were taken by ambulance to Halifax hospital in Daytona Beach, at least one of them as a trauma alert.
The crash took place immediately south of the U.S. 1 intersection with County Road 200. U.S. 1 southbound was closed to all traffic at that intersection, though traffic was extremely light in the 90 minutes following the crash. Northbound traffic was not impeded. The trooper was expecting the road to remain closed for a few hours as the traffic homicide investigation continued. The medical examiner arrived at the scene at 9:45 and removed the body shortly afterward.
The identities of the victims were being withheld pending next-of-kin notification.
The crash resulted in the ninth fatality on Flagler County roads so far this year, just three months into 2020. Last year, the county recorded 12 road fatalities all year
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Skeptical says
Hold on. Are you telling me people die of anything else other than coronavirus? I don’t believe you. Not according to MSM.
Concrned Citizen says
I am sorry that a life was lost. My condolences to the victims and I hope others involved will recover.
Folks listen up. Coming from a retired LEO/Fire Rescue guy.
I have seen a dramatic increase in aggresive/reckless driving over the last few weeks. I’m not saying that’s the case here at all but in generall. I don’t know if we are all wound up tight about Covid-19 or what. But we all need to take a chill pill.
Case in point.
I travel US1 to Palm Coast Pkwy. At most the speed limit is 55 in some places maybe 60. I was doing 55 to be safe because I drive a company vehicle and we have a zero tolerance policy. A gentleman was tailgaiting flashing lights and throwing his hands up. With plenty of room to pass the whole time. And of course he passed shot me a bird then cut me off. For what a 5 second gain? Did that make him feel superior? I suppose.
Everyone needs to slow down , get off the phones and pay attention. And have a little respect for one another !!
Life is short and even more now than ever nothing is guarenteed. Love thy neighbor. And if you can’t leave them alone. We all have our own worries.
Jimbo99 says
Stay at home folks. If driving somewhere becomes too challenging ?
Shark says
Wasn’t Staley just bragging about how low Flagler County fatality rate was !!!