St. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Two men died Sunday on A1A about a mile south of Mickler Road when the SUVs they were driving collided head-on, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
Troopers said a 38-year-old driver from Ponte Vedra Beach was headed north on A1A just before 5:30 p.m. when, for unknown reasons, he crossed the center line into the southbound lane, where his SUV collided head-on with another SUV.
The 20-year-old driver of the SUV that was headed south died in the crash, and his two passengers, ages 21 and 20, suffered serious injuries. All three men are from Clay County, according to the report.
St. Johns County District 4 Commissioner Krista Joseph told News4JAX that the stretch of A1A where the crash happened can be dangerous, pointing to drivers passing when they get impatient.
“People are not patient enough to stay behind the car that’s going the speed limit, and they’ll a lot of times pass over the double yellow line,” Joseph said. “I’m not sure what caused this accident … but it’s just so sad to hear people were killed.”
Joseph also said the county has repeatedly asked FDOT to lower the speed limit in the area as new development brings more traffic.
“FDOT … we have been asking over and over again to reduce the speed limit … because all the new houses that have been built have caused more traffic,” she said, adding that the decision ultimately rests with the state.