A mid-afternoon wreck involving three vehicles sent two people to Florida Hospital Flagler, one with serious and one with minor injuries, tying up traffic on Palm Coast Parkway westbound at the I-95 interchange.
Palm Coast Fire Department crews worked for 20 to 25 minutes to extract a woman in her 20s who was at the wheel of the white four-door Hyundai Sonata that ended up sandwiched between a dump truck and a minivan.
The wreck took place at about 3:15 p.m. The exact sequence of events is still under investigation by the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office. But evidence at the scene showed the Hyundai was struck from behind by a Ford F-450 truck belonging to Corey Enterprises, the landscaping company. The truck had three occupants. Its front was slightly damaged, as was an orange water jug tied to its front grille. The occupants were not injured.
The Hyundai was damaged front and back. Its driver’s side had to be cut to extract the driver. The minivan that the Hyundai struck was only slightly damaged, and its occupants were not injured.
Palm Coast Parkway west was reduced to one lane for firefighter safety, Fire Chief Mike Beadle said at the scene. The vehicles involved in the wreck were all on the shoulder of the road. Traffic backed up from the west side of the bridge, where the wreck took place, to the Old Kings Road intersection. The Palm Coast Fire Police provided traffic control.
Jason says
First off, I hope everyone is ok.
I have seen a lot of Landscaping companies speeding around town in a hurry to take care of the next lawn or job. I would like to see the Sheriff conduct more enforcement on the commercial vehicles around town. No need to be speeding to cut grass. Or, schedule less lawns per day for the crews so they do not have to rush around. Even when I see them on the lawn mowers some of them drive like NASCAR on the grass.
Sandra Reynolds says
This stretch of road is a hazard to one’s health and safety. These crashes are almost a weekly event, if not more. Let me guess, the traffic light had something to do with it?
Al says
The truck was probably trying to STOP but could not! The light turning yellow….put this in place for the accident. I have no doubt in my mind, Palm Coast cams need to GO!
Someone in front of that truck stopped too soon with panic from a ticket.
I see it all the time!
Anonymous says
People also drive TOO CLOSE to the vehicle in front of them. Someone is always riding my bumper when I’m going the speed limit!!
DP says
@ Jason Really speeding around town, obviously you don’t have a clue how heavy those lawn trucks and trailers can be, based on the picture’s it appears the accident happened going downhill from the bridge. Is that an excuse “No” Factor? YES, as for them driving like NASCAR when mowing. Those ZTR’s are made to cut in a faster speed than your average mower. My guess was somebody up front panicked when the light turned yellow because of the camera’s and slammed on the brakes causing a chain reaction. Another reason they don’t need to be around, there not for safety, there for the city to make money.
@ AL My guess aswell.
tjm1651 says
Anonymous
Try driving in the right lane you won’t have as many bumper riders.
And when you want to make a left turn move to the left lane prior to the intersection. Not 5 miles prior to the intersection.
Again that will eliminate a lot of the bumper riders… NOT all but most…
Realty Check says
@ DP, still no excuse, if you maintain proper following distance you will never strike the vehicle in front of you, weather they dynamite there brakes or not. A complex reaction time is about 1.4 seconds (the time your mind tells your foot to hit the pedal) that is why you keep 3-4 seconds of distance between you and the other car depending on the speed traveled. These are basic driving skills not rocket science, the lights and cameras should have anything to do with you being able to stop before hitting the car in front of you, main problem is distractions now days, and we do everything but actually drive.
Jason says
@ DP – I have been driving vehicles over 5 tons for over 20 years (With and without trailers or with fuel tank loads). I know how to stop and keep my distance. Yes, sometimes people slam on the brakes. I have had to do evasive maneuvers before but, I did have enough time to react and left distance to do so. SO please, grab a coffee at Mc’Donalds on Old Kings and Palm Coast Pkwy and watch all the Trucks flying through that intersection and passing cars to make the light before it turns red. I see it all the time.
@ Al I also agree that the cameras need to go and a vote be put on the next ballot to get rid of them. They can and do create these kind of situations where stopping quickly can happen. Still no excuse as DP pointed out.