ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. – Drivers who use the intersection of State Road 16 and Stratton Boulevard are demanding answers about when long-planned safety upgrades, including new traffic signals, will be finished after a deadly crash involving a St. Johns County deputy.
Florida Highway Patrol troopers said a 68-year-old woman was killed when her vehicle collided with a deputy’s patrol unit that was traveling westbound on SR 16 while responding to a call. The deputy was listed in serious condition.
The crash happened at the SR 16 and Stratton Boulevard intersection, where traffic moves at high speeds and drivers turning left must judge gaps in fast-moving vehicles without an active traffic light.
Local resident Billy Thurston said the intersection is dangerous for drivers and cyclists and believes a traffic light is needed. He said he has seen crashes at the intersection and said drivers often misjudge whether they can cross safely.
A county spokesperson said safety enhancements at the intersection are expected to be completed in late September as part of a project costing more than $4 million.
The improvements include new traffic signals at two intersections, new median openings designed to allow more controlled turns, signal-protected pedestrian crosswalks, new pavement markings and roadway adjustments.
Cyclist Tommy Stevens, who rides along SR 16, called the area dangerous and said the upgrades cannot come soon enough. He said his condolences are with the family of the woman killed in the crash.
Separately, the Florida Department of Transportation is evaluating a long-term reconstruction plan for a 5.9-mile stretch of SR 16 from International Golf Parkway to Interstate 95.