MIDDLEBURG, Fla. – A 77-year-old Middleburg man died Tuesday morning when troopers said he was struck by a pickup truck in Clay County.
The Florida Highway Patrol said the man, whose name was not immediately released, was crossing Blanding Boulevard at Palmetto Street just before 6:30 a.m. when a Chevrolet Silverado pickup truck driven by a 47-year-old Jacksonville man struck him in the crosswalk. The driver remained at the scene after the crash.
Troopers set up roadblocks in the area while Clay County deputies assisted with traffic control. The road was shut down for more than two hours during the investigation.
One business owner told News4Jax he has seen his share of accidents at that intersection, several of which took place this year. This crash, however, is the most serious he has seen in a long time.
"I don't see many fatalities, but we do see a lot of accidents. So that was a little shocking this morning. My heart goes out. It's unfortunate," said Dave Loving, owner of Clay County Transmission.
Loving's business is right across the street from the crash scene and his surveillance camera caught the moment of impact as the man walked down the sidewalk in front of the gas station.
One woman, who drives along Blanding Boulevard, told News4Jax the intersection and many others concern her.
"It's chaotic. There is always traffic, even on the weekends when you don't expect it," Kristen Prendergeast said. "I see crazy driving all the time."
Charges are pending, according to FHP's crash report.
According to data from the Clay County Sheriff's Office and FHP, there have been 16 accidents involving pedestrians, six of which were listed on Blanding Boulevard, since Monday.