JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A high-speed crash sent a vehicle careening through multiple yards before slamming into a San Marco home early Thursday morning, highlighting what residents say is an ongoing speeding problem along Hendricks Avenue.
Security cameras captured footage of the vehicle, which police estimate was traveling over 100 miles per hour, as it lost control between Lorimier Road and River Oaks Road shortly before 1 a.m.
The vehicle struck a light post, demolished a sign, and clipped a parked car before crashing into the front steps of Danielle Drake’s home. The brick steps prevented the vehicle from penetrating the house structure.
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“We just kept saying we were lucky, and he was very lucky that it wasn’t worse. Or that he didn’t get flung out of the car,” Drake said.
The incident has amplified residents’ concerns about chronic speeding along that stretch of Hendricks Avenue. Homeowners report multiple crashes in recent years, including a fatal accident involving a pedestrian walking their dog.
“We’ve had several accidents here. We had a man killed one morning during morning traffic while walking his dog,” said Ron Nepa.
Drake, who has lived in the area for three years, has witnessed the dangerous trend firsthand. “The cars and motorcycles that race up and down this road day and night. It was a matter of time. I’ve seen four accidents,” she said.
While police are aware of the speeding issues, enforcement remains challenging as it requires catching violators in the act. The posted speed limit on that section of Hendricks Avenue is 40 mph, significantly lower than the estimated speed of Thursday’s crash.
Residents along Hendricks Avenue are urging drivers to exercise greater caution, particularly when homeowners are entering or exiting their driveways and when pedestrians are using nearby sidewalks.
“You’re not going to get there any faster. Just slow down. We live here. We have to pull in and pull out. Pay attention to what’s going on around you,” Drake said.
Nepa echoed these concerns, stressing the importance of adhering to posted limits: “It’s 40 mph here, and I think we need to try and maintain that.”
The driver in Thursday’s crash reportedly sustained only minor leg injuries.