One Killed in Rear-End Crash with 18-Wheeler on I-95 in Palm Coast, FL
Palm Coast, FL — December 28, 2022, a woman died in a rear-end collision with a tractor-trailer on Interstate 95 in Flagler County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 8:30 a.m. along northbound I-95 near Matanzas Woods Parkway. Preliminary investigation suggests a commercial 18-wheeler was in the road's center lane, possibly slowing for traffic that was building up due to a previous accident and a lane closure, when the victim's sedan approached it from behind and crashed into its trailer. After the impact the car traveled fully underneath the trailer.
The victim was fatally injured in the collision. No other injuries were reported.
The investigation continues but conditions were reportedly clear and dry at the time of the wreck.
No further information is currently available.
Preliminary reports can't (or just don't) offer very much insight about what happened here, but the years have taught me folks are rather quick to blame anyone who rear-ends another vehicle. Sometimes evidence shows that person did make a mistake, but it should never be taken for granted. There may be extenuating circumstances or other contributing factors, so it's important to ask more questions.
For example: How long had the lane been closed for the previous accident? Was the scene adequately marked--and if so, how far up the road were the markings? Did people have plenty of warning they needed to slow down and merge? When the truck slowed for traffic, did the driver do so suddenly or gradually? How fast was the victim's vehicle traveling? Did authorities make sure its safety features (brakes, airbags, seatbelts) worked properly? Pictures of the crash show the car fully beneath the trailer; did the trailer's underride bar work properly? If there was traffic in the area, were any other drivers able to clarify what happened? Who's telling the victim's side of the story here?
