Head-on crash shuts down US-301 at County Road 218 for hours
CLAY COUNTY, Fla. โ A Keystone Heights driver died in an early morning wreck on U.S. 301 south of County Road 218 when his pickup truck crossed into oncoming traffic and struck another pickup head-on, according to Florida Highway Patrol. Crash investigators said the 29-year-old man was driving north at 5:45 a.m. between Lawtey and Baldwin when he lost control, cross the median and struck the southbound vehicle. #BREAKING: @FHPJacksonville is reporting at least one fatality in a multiple vehicle crash on US 301 south of CR 218. The southbound lanes remained closed past noon. Crash investigators have not yet determined what caused the crash, but roads in the area were slick from rain overnight.
Mother mourns 'miracle baby' son after couple killed on US 301
Troopers said the crash, which killed Micah Phoenix, 37, and Yomadith Rodriguez Matos, 32, occurred shortly after 11 p.m. on 301 near Southwest 89th Street in Bradford County. Phoenix's mother, Christina Johnson, told News4Jax that the family was watching TV when the couple decided to go for a walk. Johnson said an officer knocked on her door at 3 a.m. with the news that her son and his girlfriend had been killed. Rodriguez Matos and Phoenix died at the scene of the crash, which was just 2 miles from his home. Family said the two had been dating for about a month, and Rodriguez Matos' brother told News4Jax she leaves behind three daughters, ages 12, 10 and 8.