JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The 46-year-old man killed driving the wrong way on Interstate 95 early Wednesday morning had numerous previous driving and drug arrests, including three for driving under the influence.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Jimmy Carracter, of Jacksonville, was driving a Lexus south in the northbound lanes just before the Emerson Street exit about 1:40 a.m. Wednesday when his car struck a Honda Civic. The Lexus spun around and was then struck by a car carrier, which left the travel lanes and hit and damaged the guard rail near San Diego Road.
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Carracter was transported to Shands Jacksonville Medical Center, where he died. The driver of the Honda sustained minor injuries. Her passenger and the driver of the car carrier were not injured.
"My understanding is the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office had several calls in reference to a vehicle traveling southbound in northbound (lanes), and they were attempting to intercept at the time of the crash," said FHP Sgt. Dylan Bryan.
Troopers say the results of toxicology blood tests on Carracter will take weeks.
Court records show Carracter was arrested twice in 2006 and once in 2007 on DUI charges, along with charges for possession of marijuana and cocaine. He also had three arrests for driving with his license suspended or revoked, along with child neglect and resisting arrest.
All northbound lanes were closed for more than five hours Wednesday morning while the accident was investigated and cleared.
One northbound lane at the San Diego Road overpass was closed again from 9 p.m. Wednesday to 5 a.m. Thursday to allow emergency repairs to the concrete retaining wall. Work was expected to continue overnight Thursday into Friday morning.