Driver dies after SUV rear-ends semi-truck just after midnight on I-95 in St. Johns County
Crash occurred south of County Road 210; truck driver uninjured, investigation ongoing
A 64-year-old man from St. Johns County died early Saturday after his sport utility vehicle struck the rear of a semi-truck on Interstate 95, authorities said. The crash happened just after midnight in the northbound lanes of I-95, south of the County Road 210 area.
Investigators said both vehicles were traveling north in the right lane when the collision occurred. The SUV, described as a white Jeep Cherokee, ran into the back of a gray Freightliner truck. The impact prompted an emergency response and the driver of the Jeep was transported to St. Vincent’s Hospital, where he later died.
The semi-truck driver, a 38-year-old man from Pompano Beach, was not injured.
What is known so far
Location: Interstate 95 northbound, south of County Road 210 in St. Johns County.
Time: Just after midnight on Saturday.
Vehicles: A white Jeep Cherokee and a gray Freightliner semi-truck.
Outcome: The Jeep’s 64-year-old driver died after being taken to a hospital; the truck driver was not hurt.
Investigation focuses on circumstances leading to rear-end impact
Authorities have not released a cause of the crash and have said the investigation remains active. No additional details were immediately provided about possible contributing factors such as speed, impairment, distraction, roadway conditions, mechanical issues, or whether either driver attempted evasive action prior to impact.
Rear-end collisions involving passenger vehicles and tractor-trailers can be especially severe because of the height difference between vehicles and the concentrated forces involved in a direct strike to the back of a truck. Investigators typically evaluate physical evidence at the scene, including vehicle damage patterns, skid marks, electronic data (when available), and statements from drivers and witnesses.
The crash remains under investigation, and further findings may be released after investigators complete their review.
What happens next
Officials have not identified the deceased driver by name in the initial report. Any future release is expected to clarify additional factors examined in the case, including whether citations were issued, whether toxicology testing is being conducted as part of routine procedure, and whether the crash timeline and vehicle movements can be reconstructed more precisely.
Motorists who travel the I-95 corridor through St. Johns County are urged to remain alert during overnight hours, maintain safe following distances, and watch for slower-moving commercial traffic, particularly in darker stretches where visibility can change quickly.