JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Two separate crashes in rainy conditions early Wednesday killed two people and left another seriously injured, raising renewed concerns about wet-road safety.
The first crash occurred about 3:10 a.m. on Pine Acres Road when a man drove through a dead-end barricade and struck a concrete wall, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said. He died of his injuries.
Recommended Videos
About 7:30 a.m., investigators said, a Mercury Grand Marquis lost control on the Main Street Bridge, slid across lanes and collided head-on with a Mercedes. The driver of the Grand Marquis died; the Mercedes driver was hospitalized in stable condition with severe injuries, authorities said.
The JSO crash map shows nine crashes on the Main Street Bridge in the past year, none of them fatal, and another nine crashes just before the bridge, the agency said.
Greg Driskell, president and CEO of PPP Transportation Safety Innovations in Jacksonville, said the first rainfall after a dry spell can be especially hazardous because oils rise to the surface of newer asphalt, making the roadway slicker than when it is dry.
“In the beginning of a rainfall, that’s when the oils rise to the top … and they haven’t had a chance to wash off,” Driskell said. “Slow down and keep your eyes open. Become a defensive driver,” he added, urging motorists to stay alert to the roadway and to other drivers.
Safety officials offer several simple steps drivers can take during wet weather:
- Turn on headlights when wipers are in use.
- Make sure windshield wipers are in good condition.
- Slow down to reduce the risk of hydroplaning.
- Never drive through flooded roads.
- Be extra cautious on bridges, where wind can worsen conditions.