ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – People in St. Johns County are demanding answers after authorities said a man died this week when he ran from ICE agents into the path of a tractor-trailer on State Road 16.
Community members holding signs and candles returned Wednesday night for a vigil at the scene where the 28-year-old man, described as a Mexican national, died early Tuesday morning.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating the deadly crash, which troopers said began as an encounter with Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) at a nearby gas station.
The Department of Homeland Security said it is also investigating the incident, but for now, the community is left with many unanswered questions: who this man was, why he was here, why the vehicle was stopped, whether he lived in Florida, and what happened in the moments leading up to his running into traffic.
People at Wednesday night’s vigil said they want more transparency.
“When a 28-year-old man decides to run into traffic in fear of turning himself in, that speaks volumes,” said one person at the vigil, where people lined the shoulder of SR-16, leaving flowers, candles and handwritten messages at the site of the crash.
Passing drivers honked as they went by.
One organizer, Katie Chorbak, said the group wanted to raise awareness about immigration enforcement actions and what she described as a broader pattern of fear and escalation.
“It’s the same level of violence,” Chorbak said. “Whether it’s with a gun or you’re forcing people to run into traffic, violence is violence.”
Another attendee, Jaime Swedeen, said she came out to show support for the victim’s family.
“I’m sorry,” Swedeen said. “All these people out here and people across the country are not going to let him die in vain.”
Another demonstration connected to the deadly incident is expected in Downtown Jacksonville on Thursday night.
Deadly encounter
FHP said the moments leading up to the deadly crash began at a nearby gas station parking lot on SR-16, where Homeland Security Investigations (HSI) and ICE agents had an encounter with a vehicle.
FHP says four people inside the vehicle ran off, and one of them ran across SR-16, where he was hit by a tractor-trailer that was traveling eastbound.
He suffered fatal injuries and died at the scene. FHP said the tractor-trailer driver stopped immediately and attempted to render aid and was not injured.
On Wednesday, the Department of Homeland Security provided News4JAX a statement confirming a DHS operation in the area and noting investigators are still working the case:
“On July 14, DHS law enforcement conducted an operation near St. Johns, Florida. Florida Highway Patrol and HSI are investigating an incident resulting in the death of a Mexican national. We will provide an update when available.”