A fatal crash Friday evening at Blanding Boulevard and Collins Road shut down all southbound lanes and choked traffic across Jacksonville’s Southside, turning an already busy corridor into a standstill. Emergency crews stayed at the intersection for hours while investigators documented the scene, cleared wreckage and directed drivers onto detours. Officials have not yet released any information about the people involved or what triggered the collision.
According to Action News Jax, the Florida Highway Patrol reported the deadly crash and said that as of about 8:30 p.m., all southbound lanes from Duclay to Collins Road were shut down. The outlet also reported that it had asked the Florida Highway Patrol, the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and Jacksonville Fire and Rescue for additional details but had not yet received responses. Action News Jax indicated its coverage would be updated as new information comes in.
Crash Site Is A Known Trouble Spot
The intersection of Blanding Boulevard and Collins Road has shown up repeatedly on local crash maps and in regional safety plans as a high injury location, a pattern that transportation safety officials have been warning about for years. The City of Jacksonville highlights corridors where serious crashes tend to cluster in its Vision Zero Action Plan, and regional planning documents list the Blanding and Collins area as a priority for engineering changes and stepped up enforcement. That context helps explain why crashes at this corner so often lead to major backups and multi agency responses.
Investigation And Traffic Impact
The Florida Highway Patrol is leading the investigation into the wreck, according to the local report, and drivers are being warned to expect ongoing delays while troopers collect evidence and crews finish clearing the roadway. Authorities have not publicly confirmed how many vehicles were involved, the extent of any injuries or whether impairment or other factors might have contributed, Action News Jax reported. Motorists in the area were urged to steer clear of the corridor and use alternate routes until all lanes reopen…