Pedestrian on I-295 at Beach Boulevard hit by semi, killed

Southbound lanes blocked first, then second crash closed northbound lanes

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The southbound lanes of Interstate 295 between Beach Boulevard and Town Center Parkway were closed for hours after a tractor-trailer struck a pedestrian Monday morning

The Florida Highway Patrol and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department confirmed that a person was struck by a big rig about 10:15 a.m.

Within a few minutes of that first crash, a tractor-trailer headed north failed to slow for traffic. When he tried to stop, the big rig hit the median, then a tractor hauling a flatbed trailer and a car. There were no injuries, but the crash blocked all northbound lanes for about 90 minutes.

"Rubbernecking causes crashes!" FHP tweeted. "Please avoid the area."

Southbound I-295 finally reopened just before 3 p.m. The FHP has not released the name of the victim pending notification of next of kin.

These were two of four crashes in Duval County before noon Monday that involved tractor-trailers.

The Florida Highway Patrol said a semi crash about 5 a.m. involving a pole down and a diesel fuel leak blocked Interstate 10 eastbound at Cassat Avenue. 

Just after 11 a.m, the FHP reported an overturned tractor-trailer that blocked northbound Interstate 95 south of Bowden Road. Troopers said that wreck was caused when the driver of a Hyundai Sonata lost control and her car hit the median, then came back on the road and struck the front of a Freightliner, which then also hit the barrier wall and ended up blocking all three lanes. Troopers allowed northbound traffic to pass on the right-hand emergency lane while that wreck was cleared.

There were also two rollover crashes of big rigs in Bradford County: The first on State Road 301 at County Road 227 about just afternoon, and another about 4 p.m. on State Road 200 at County Road 100A. There were no injuries in either of those incidents.

VIDEO: 6 crashes involving semi-trucks in 12 hours