The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said a JSO officer swerved when he saw the man running across the road, but was “unable to avoid” striking him.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A man passed away Friday night after being struck by a police SUV driven by a Jacksonville sheriff’s officer as he “darted” across Old St. Augustine Road, the sheriff’s office reported.
Commander Shelton with JSO said the crash happened around 9:44 p.m. in the 11500 block of Old St. Augustine Road.
Shelton mentioned that two JSO officers were en route to Mandarin High School to assist with football game security. He noted that the officers traveled in separate Ford SUVs in the inside southbound lane on Old St. Augustine Road, one following the other.
Shelton stated that a man in his late 40s unexpectedly “darted” into the officers’ vehicles’ path. He indicated the first officer tried to swerve left but couldn’t avoid hitting the man with the front right part of his vehicle.
The officers both stopped at the scene and provided aid to the man until the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department arrived, as Shelton relayed. The man was transported to a local hospital where he passed away shortly after his arrival, Shelton confirmed.
Shelton also shared with First Coast News that, in line with JSO policy, the officer involved in the incident will be placed on administrative leave during a review, and that JSO’s traffic homicide and crime scene units will conduct an investigation of the crash.
This crash marks as the 117th traffic fatality in Duval County in 2025, and the 23rd involving a pedestrian, according to JSO.
