Bicyclist struck by car on Philips Highway

Jacksonville police said car struck truck parked on roadside, then bicycle

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A man was hospitalized Wednesday afternoon after a crash involving a bicycle, a car and a truck on northbound Philips Highway, just south of Emerson Street, police said.

According to the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office, a car heading north about 2:30 p.m. left the travel lane and struck a delivery truck parked along the road. The car glanced off the truck, then struck the bicycle that was in a bike lane.

JSO Lt. Jimmy Judge said the bicycle and rider were dragged quite a distance before coming to a stop. The man who was on the bike was taken to Memorial Hospital with life-threatening injuries. He said the driver of the car suffered minor injuries.

Sandra Coleman told News4Jax that the bicyclist is her neighbor at a nearby trailer park. She said he rides his bike to the nearby Walmart on Philips Highway every day.

"It's very dangerous out here," she said.

People in the area said the stretch of Philips Highway near the Walmart has become notorious for close calls between pedestrians and drivers. They said it's also a very dangerous section of Philips Highway to cross without a crosswalk. 

“I got hit right here in 2003. A pickup truck hit me in 2003 and tore up ligaments in my leg, bruised my shoulders all up," Patricia Clark said. "That’s why I’m crippled.”

Police said it's always it’s better to walk the extra distance to a crosswalk, rather than taking a shortcut that could lead to disaster. 

“Use these crosswalks. They are there for a reason," Judge said. "When you cross without a crosswalk, you’re putting yourself in peril.”

The scene was blocked for several hours while traffic homicide detectives investigated the accident.


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