A family of five riding in one car and an off-duty law enforcement officer riding in the other were injured, some of them seriously, and sent to three different hospitals, one of them by air, after a three-vehicle crash in the construction zone for the coming roundabout at U.S. 1 and Old Dixie Highway.
The crash took place a few minutes before 7 this evening, closing U.S. 1 in both directions–north at the White Eagle Lounge and Old Dixie Highway, and south at Seminole Woods Parkway.
Among the injured, a 13-year-old boy was flown by Flagler County Fire Flight to Arnold Palmer Hospital for Children in Orlando, and a toddler was transported by ground to AdventHealth Palm Coast, one of four people taken there. The boy was a trauma alert, with head injuries. He was in serious but stable condition, authorities said.
One adult man was taken to Halifax hospital in Daytona Beach, also in serious but stable condition. It’s not clear for now if that was the off-duty Daytona Beach police officer, who was the only occupant of a Chevy TrailBlazer. The family of five were all riding in a Toyota Rav4. The single occupant of a Lexus that was also involved in the crash was not injured and remained at the scene. None of the injured face life-threatening injuries.
The Flagler County Sheriff’s Office initially responded to the call. The investigation is being conducted by the Florida Highway Patrol. Flagler County Fire Rescue sent three rescues to the scene after declaring the scene a mass-casualty incident. The Palm Coast Fire Police regulated traffic.
In the construction zone, which extends about half a mile north of the intersection where the roundabout is being built, both north and southbound traffic is diverted onto what used to be the two southbound lanes, which are now divided by a double-yellow, low concrete divider, with northbound traffic on one side and southbound traffic on the other. The divider is no higher than the standard curb. The lanes are narrow, with concrete barriers on the west side and orange construction barrels on the other.
Preliminary indications, according to officials at the scene, are that one of the vehicles appears to have jumped the divider, crashing into one vehicle, then another. The Lexus ended up about 50 to 70 yards further south from the crash scene, perpendicular to the two lanes. The Chevy and the Toyota were in a head-on lock when a tower from Bunnell’s John’s Towing separated them.
During the rescue, paramedics discovered a dead wild turkey against the concrete barrier, next to the TrailBlazer. It’s not known if the bird was a crash fatality or if it had been the victim of earlier roadkill.
The $4.1 million construction project at the intersection began in January. It is expected to take 15 months, with traffic shifts affecting U.S. 1 most of that time. The Department of Transportation project will result in a roundabout at what until recently had been one of the deadliest intersections in the county. The roundabout is designed to reduce fatal and serious traffic crashes. On Tuesday, a motorcyclist lost his life in a crash in the construction zone on I-95, just north of Palm Coast Parkway.
Tony W. Allman says
I travel this highway on a daily basis so sad to see another crash there. On my way home last night I called 911 and reported this turkey being hit there. The turkey was still alive most likely had broken legs or wings. I was concerned that someone was going to stop in this dangerous section of construction and try to rescue it. The turkeys head was still moving. This morning the turkey was still there but likely dead. I was the second vehicle behind one of these vehicles involved in this crash this evening. I hope the turkey was not the cause. It saddens me to see more people hurt at this intersection. People please slow down!!! P&S Paving has provided more than enough warning signs for this construction zone. I see the ignorance of people driving everyday not only here but everywhere. God bless these people I hope they are all ok. This really scared me.
Local says
We need a roundabout around the roundabout to avoid these types of accidents….and a roundabout around those to just for safety reasons..
Amy says
I’m surprised this is the first accident. Trying to turn onto US-1 from Old Dixie is dangerous as heck right now with the way they have it set up. You can’t see over the barriers to know if a car is coming around that curve when you’re trying to turn right onto US-1. I’ve been taking that way home from my parents’ house for 11 years, and now they make me call when I get home since that construction started. I cannot believe it took this long for an accident.
Hope says
Never thought that roundabout was a good idea to begin with.
Billy says
Hope all is well for everyone. I feel really bad for the Turkey as well.
Rick G says
How ironic that this accident happened while the roundabout is being constructed. I’ll bet we will be seeing more of this activity even after its completion.
Tyler says
I cannot wait for the first multi vehicle collision after the roundabout is finished. I’m gonna put a big sign next to it saying “WE TOLD YOU SO!”
hawkeye says
I pray to God that everyone involved in this will be o-k. Expect a lot more wrecks ,a roundabout is not the answer for this stretch of roads problems.
Roll on 2 says
Totally preventable! First of all, the speed limit thru the work area is too high. Second, the barrier seperating the two lanes is too low. A Jersey barrier wall like on the west side would be more appropriate. And last, but not least, there needs to be better speed enforcement in the work area. This would be a perfect place to do aerial enforcement by vascar or other means!
ConstantlyAmazed says
All this because the state refuses to put a TRAFFIC LIGHT there. Instead they opted for a triple the cost roundabout that even though under construction is still causing accidents. Just wait till it’s completed might as well set up a TRAUMA center at the White Eagle this why we won’t have to keep sending up the helicopter.
The original woody says
It’s hairy going through there, way more dangerous now then before construction.
JOE SCHMO says
too fast through a construction zone plain and simple. should slow down to 25 MPH just like A1A.
Stretchem says
I am stunned that the speed limit through that zone has only been slowed to 55mph! There’s a whole lot going on there, with a curve and 3 foot high concrete barriers with a blind entrance from Old Kings.
That should be a 35 mph zone with plenty of warning lights as that intersection is approached. If you get stuck behind me, you’re going 35. Deal with it for a few moments. We’re not going to kill someone out there due to your impatience.
DOT needs to address that ASAP. Maybe a call from Morgan and Morgan would expedite. It is rediculous that’s a 55mph zone.
blondee says
Very tragic, but it’s not like we didn’t see this coming!!!
Concern Citizen says
Thank God everyone survived.
“BUT A TRAFFIC LIGHT WOULD HAVE BEEN BETTER”…would have solved the problem…still accidents happening in the same spot…
Roy says
Roundabout enhancing traffic safety even before it is finished.
capt says
“vehicle crash in the construction zone for the coming roundabout at U.S. 1”. Why can’t drivers pay freaking attention. It not that hard, pay attestation and save lives. Kinda simple.
T says
That was the dumbest idea to put a roundabout there.
Right says
The roundabout isn’t going to eliminate crashes altogether. The number of minor or survivable crashes there may even even rise..but what it will do is help limit the types of crashes that end in fatality. The idea is to keep people alive.
Relative of Lexus owner says
The trailblazer was headed northbound at a high rate of speed. Significantly higher than the 55 miles an hour. He was sideways out and of control when he crossed the median and struck our Lexus heading southbound on the passenger side, totaling the car. He then bounced off the barrier and into the Toyota. You can tell How much over the 55 mile an hour speed limit the trailblazer was traveling by the amount of damage to the RAV4 AFTER hitting our Lexus and the wall. There was about 150 yards between the collisions.
Lillian Hendrix says
I had an accident there 2/4/19 around 10:30 am leaving Old Dixie turning left trying to go South. I looked both directions creeping up to barrels to see South bound traffic, when car smashed into me traveling North. Total my car and I got the ticket. Speed going North was 55 too fast for a construction area. I will not travel that area any more take I-95 around it. Still have some black and blue. That is an area to stay away from. GOD be with the people. there will be many more hurt or killed.
Callthemasiseethem says
What exactly are those stupid little 6 inch curbs supposed to accomplish? Had the proper barriers been in place the vehicle that crossed into oncoming traffic would not have had the ability to do so. You have traffic traveling through narrow curving lanes with only a six inch yellow curb separating the vehicles traveling in opposite directions. It wasn’t that long ago that this very same type of curbs contributed to a fatal motorcycle accident in the turn lanes in front of the Mobil station a little further north on US1. It would be interesting to know how often these little barriers have contributed to other accidents at Florida DOT construction sites around the state. The state needs to stop cutting corners and start using proper barriers?
John dolan esq. says
Very dangerous construction zone. Because of roller coaster ramp effect due to road grade. And 15 months of this. God Bless! Get your ticket at the station.
Steve Vanne says
The first of many. Just think could already have traffic lights there and could avoid this mess and save thousands of our tax payer money….
Percy's mother says
I travel through that roundabout construction zone on US-1 around 11:30 p.m. on various nights coming home from work.
The road is dimly lit at night and poorly marked (to begin with). The road is winding and uneven and slopes. Locals know what’s going on in that area. What about people from out of town who aren’t expecting to encounter that road situation?
On Tuesday night at 11:30 p.m. I was travelling north on US-1 through that roundabout construction zone with a huge monster truck behind me right on my bumper trying to push me along through that construction zone. Very distracting to say the least. Then came the flashing headlights along with being right on my bumper to try to push me to go faster through that very winding and dark construction zone. Very aggressive driver. I was going around 45 to 50, which is more than sufficient in the pitch dark in a winding and uneven construction zone. When its foggy and/or raining, the conditions are much worse.
I predict one or more fatalities in that construction zone before its all done. You see, the expert engineers failed to take into account human error, poor road conditions,fog, rain, looking into oncoming headlights at night, people from out of the area who don’t know the road situation, and often, very aggressive drivers who won’t slow down for anything.
One or more fatalities is my prediction.
Michael's Father says
Stop the construction and put a light up making traffic stop in this area. A round a bout is going to create more confusion, bad accidents and because we the people have spoken and said we don’t want this, and because it was pushed down our throats, when accidents do occur, those responsible for implementing this should be held accountable! Roundabouts are to connect several roads, and that is NOT the case in this area. This is another brainless idea of Craig Coffey! The BOCC needs to take act on stopping this construction immediately.
palmcoaster says
Its time that our Sheriff Traffic units start heavy fining speeders high and often and track those tickets income very close to be properly spent. That was the case when I moved here in 1991…then we grew and the revenue grew but NOT the services we paid for. And also FDOT stop cutting corners and provide what we pay for in taxes for vehicular safety.
We are paying double to Flagler County than what we pay our City of Palm Coast in ad valorem when county only have 168 residents per square mile and PC has 944 residents per square mile. So county made itself frivolous spending rich using our overpaid hard earned taxes in like the 1.1 million Sears building, contaminated hospital and many others. My taxes in Daytona Beach are the same as I pay Volusia County….so in Flagler we are still being plucked by the county and city good old boys benefiting themselves including some realtors and developers buddies etc. This is while the taxes we pay for our services are wasted and services lack. We need roads widening, sewer and drainage updated first to be able to properly serve this growth.
Dave says
This round a bout couldn’t be done fast enough! We have needed this round a bout for many years and this is another example of why it cant be done fast enough!
Barbara Cosenza says
I am not drprised that we ste having accidents here. I never believed in the roundabout because the high speed on US 1 and lack of lighting in the area will put us all at risk driving there. How will someone driving on Old Dixie Hwy going a much slower speed work his way on to US 1 wirhout being creamed. So dangerous. I have lived through the nightmare of traffic circles in NJ. Definitely accident traps. We need to slow down in that area. If we can’t get drivers to slow down in a construction zone, how can ww get them to slow down when its done and open. People fly down US 1 at speeds of at least 90mph. Signage and surveillance are necessary.