JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – At least seven traffic incidents are tied to the IRONMAN Jacksonville Triathlon on May 16, prompting responses by the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office, including one in which an officer was injured, according to crash reports.
Below are sectioned summaries of each report. News4JAX is working to obtain crash reports for other incidents.
Bicyclist struck on U.S. 1; driver cited
At 9:40 a.m., a BMW turning from the I‑95 south exit ramp struck a bicyclist traveling south on U.S. 1 (Philips Highway) after the driver drove around cones that had been placed to reserve a lane for the event, the crash report said. The bicyclist complained of pain to a knee, shoulder and ribs and had bleeding on his arms but declined transport by Jacksonville Fire and Rescue. The driver was cited for failing to use a designated lane. The report lists damage to the bicycle and minor damage to the BMW.
Sideswipe on Philips Highway amid lane closures
At 1:35 p.m., two SUVs sideswiped while both were northbound on Philips Highway, where lanes were divided with cones for the race, according to the report. Both drivers gave conflicting accounts about which lane they were told to use, so no citations were issued. Neither driver reported injuries. One vehicle was towing an untagged trailer; both vehicles sustained minor damage and were removed from the scene.
Intersection crash on Baymeadows Road prompts warning
At 2:55 p.m., a vehicle attempting to cross Baymeadows Road struck another vehicle at an intersection affected by IRONMAN lane closures and congestion, the report states. One person was listed as a possible injury; the other driver was apparently uninjured. The driver who crossed lanes received a warning citation for careless driving. Both vehicles had damage; one had heavy front passenger‑side damage and the other sustained rear passenger‑side damage and a flat tire, JSO said.
Hit‑and‑run at RaceTrac; tag captured
At about 3 p.m. a vehicle turning into the RaceTrac at 8441 Philips Highway was struck and the other vehicle fled the scene, witnesses recorded a license plate, and officers attempted to locate the registered owner, the report says. Officers later learned the vehicle was a company vehicle and the owner did not know who was driving it at the time. No injuries were reported, and the case was suspended after investigators were unable to identify the driver.
Officer injured while directing traffic at Philips Highway and Putnam Avenue
At 3:57 p.m., a driver turning left from Philips Highway onto Putnam Avenue ran over an officer’s foot while they were working in the trafficway for the event, according to the report. The officer was transported to a hospital with non‑life‑threatening injuries; Traffic Homicide and JFRD responded. The driver reported no injuries and no visible vehicle damage was observed at the scene.
Bicyclist struck near Crosswater Parkway
Orlando athlete Zack Stinson was struck by a truck while competing in the IRONMAN near the corner of Bobcat Lane and Crosswater Parkway, just before the 50-mile mark of the bike course. A truck traveling in the adjacent lane turned directly into his path, leaving him unable to stop in time, resulting in road rash and a deep forehead laceration requiring stitches.
Suspected drunk driver arrested after speeding through race in Five Points: JSO
Police say a suspected drunk driver, identified as 62-year-old Darrell Simon, sped through the race near Five Points, narrowly missing runners, bicyclists and spectators before officers stopped the vehicle using a PIT maneuver. No one was injured. Simon was booked on eight felony charges and nearly a dozen misdemeanors and violations — his third DUI arrest in 10 years.
Mayor Donna Deegan acknowledged traffic and safety concerns and said that there will be meetings to tweak the event before it returns next year.