For the Matanzas Woods Parkway intersection with U.S. 1, it was just another wreck that followed the same narrative as countless wrecks before it: a motorist is driving north following all rules of the road, when suddenly a another motorist pulls out of Matanzas Woods Parkway to make a turn onto U.S. 1, claiming not to have seen oncoming traffic. A wreck follows, often with critical or fatal results.
Thursday evening’s wreck involved a Ford F-150 and an 18-wheeler, the tractor pulling a 45-foot trailer. Most of the damage, while severe, was limited to the two trucks.
It was 6:15 p.m. Greg McFerran, 50, of Fitzgerald, Ga., was driving his 18-wheeler north, carrying scrap cars that he’d picked up in Fort Pierce for delivery in Savannah. John Gregory Dick, a 55-year-old resident of Palm Coast’s F Section, was at the wheel of the red Ford F-150, which he uses for his business, To the Rescue Home Improvements and Repairs.
“I was coming down the road there, I wasn’t going very fast,” McFerran said. “I caught that last traffic light back there, I wasn’t even doing high range, so if I was doing 55 I wasn’t doing even that, and I think it’s 60 here isn’t it? I probably wasn’t even doing 50. And all of a sudden I see this guy just easing out. I’m like—-but he was going slow, and I’m like, what’s this guy doing? I was scared to go that way,” meaning right, “because if he’d seen me and stopped, then I’d really hit him. I’d have hit him hard, then. So I eased over to this side,” toward the median, “and just caught the front end of him, I mean I just barely hit him. I thought I almost missed him.”
The front of the F-150 was demolished, and the front-left of the truck was severely damaged. Dick was transported to Florida Hospital Flagler with minor injuries, more for precautionary measures, a Florida Highway Patrol investigator at the scene said. The investigator said Dick violated McFerran’s right of way, and was to be cited for it. McFerran said he was “just shook up a bit,” and was only concerned about the other driver.
“He’s OK. That’s all I was worried about. I wasn’t worried about anything else,” McFerran said. “We can fix the truck, we can fix the car, but we can’t fix life.”
Still, even McFerran–an out-of-towner–was in disbelief about that stretch of road.
“He says he didn’t even saw me. Will you explain something to me?” McFerran said. “When you get on down there at that end and you go to this end, count the crosses on the side of the road. On a completely straight road. I’m on a straight piece of road, my headlights are working, everything is working.”
The Palm Coast Fire Department, Flagler County Fire Rescue, the Sheriff’s Office and the highway patrol responded, as did the Palm Coast Fire Police, which reduced traffic in both directions to one lane at the intersection until Saxon’s Wrecker cleared the F-150 and the roads reopened to normal traffic at 7:45 p.m.
Nancy N. says
I live about in Indian Trails near that intersection. How many people have to die before we get a light there? This is INSANE! Stop telling us you are milking us for red light camera money to fill the city’s pockets “for our safety” and start actually paying attention to our safety, Palm Coast.
Rick Belhumeur says
I don’t get it… are people suicidal? The only way they are going to keep more people from dying at that intersection is to put up a signal with “NO TURN ON RED”. Just putting up a light there won’t work because people will still pull out in front of traffic going 60mph and more.
Jesup says
Better yet, put lighting there to light the area better. It’s very dark on that stretch of road.
Paul says
it should be a 45 mph on US1 heading north approaching that intersection.
Tired says
I’m glad to hear that everyone is okay and agree that a light is needed quick at that intersection! I have to wonder why this trucker was on US 1 and not I 95? I’m not saying avoiding the weigh station is a reason to get into an accident, nobody deserves that nor would I wish it on anyone. Just curious as to why he wasn’t on the interstate.
maryann says
OR PEOPLE SHOULD PAY ATTENTION WHEN THEY DRIVE!
Brittany says
This is ridiculous. I live in the L section right by this intersection. I am too afraid to turn at this intersection that I actually drive down Belle Terre instead. How many accidents have to occur before the city decides to fix the problem. It’s not like Palm Coast doens’t have the money. Just put a light up with your stupid red light cameras there. It will be an investment for the city and it will save lives. Too many people have been injured and died at this intersection. Palm Coast needs to get off their ass and fix this!
fruitcake says
They have to order the red light camera before they can put a light there!
rhweir says
A light is needed there. Have to agree with previous post, what was he doing on US 1 instead of I95? My guess is the weigh station on 95 was open and the US 1 weigh station was closed. I’ve seen semis using Matanzas Woods Parkway and the side streets adjacent to MWP to avoid the weigh station on US 1.
Rocky Mac says
Hard to believe he did not see this huge truck with all his lights blazing. Or he misjudged the distance. Easy enough to do.
confidential says
At least here in Florida the violation of right of way of an incoming vehicle is a daily occurrence and has to be addressed. Have happened to me in Palm Coast Parkway and Old Kings road shortly after I moved here 21 years ago. I see it happening to others almost every time I drive around town. Those drivers at and intersection with a stop sign or light, always think that can beat the incoming traffic, causing extensive damage and injury or loss of life. Then is when our insurance rates go up. Does anyone believe that the insurance paid during his motorist life by Mr. Gregory Dick is sufficient to cover the damage he caused to both vehicles and his medical treatment?
Sure not…then is us all who pay the over, as even a hefty increment in his policy won’t cover it either.
Maybe is time we all start thinking that every time we see these “accidents” our auto policies will go up as it actually does. Lights, stop signs and or No turn on Red, will not work until our legislators will toughen our laws. Maybe signs with “NO Right of Way Violation” or ” Right of Way Violation Penalty” under the STOP or something to that tune, may work better. Also does anyone realize how expensive and how disruptive to most good drivers is to have a light in the middle of nowhere as is that corner, just because few irresponsible drivers violate the law?
Ralph Belcher says
The common denominator here I note with wrecks at this intersection is that folks pulling out are violating rights of way for the through route. Darwin is hard of work here. Clearly a traffic signal is warranted.
Tom says
It doesn’t matter why the truck was there. It matters more that someone pulling on to US1 wasn’t paying attention!
Ed says
I am tired of what I call the Palm Coast Pull Out. And this story is a good example of the Pullout. Almost everyday A motorist will slowly pull out to make a right hand turn within 25 yards of me and slowly get to speed like they never saw me going 45 mph down palmcoast parkway.