ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – A 64-year-old woman riding a scooter died in a crash in St. Johns County on State Road 16 on Wednesday, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
St. Johns County Fire Rescue confirmed that crews were responding to a vehicle vs. scooter crash at SR-16 and North Ponce de Leon Boulevard around 7:30 p.m.
The report said a 59-year-old man who was driving a Tesla was speeding down SR-16 when he hit the woman on the motorized scooter and continued driving before hitting a camera pole and overturning into the parking lot of Flagler Inn.
The person on the scooter died on the scene, according to SJCFR. Another was taken to the hospital with serious injuries.
The intersections of SR-16 and US-1 and SR-16 and Lewis Speedway were shut down in all directions.
A video that was captured by one of Black Diamond Coach & Limousine’s company vehicles was sent to News4JAX and showed what appeared to be an unmarked patrol car with its emergency lights activated following the Tesla after it overturned and crashed into the Flagler Inn.
The Florida Highway Patrol is investigating what caused the crash.
On Thursday, the St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office released the following statement about the incident:
“On July 8, 2026, just before 7:30 p.m., an SJSO deputy who stopped at the Circle K gas station on SR 16 and Masters Drive, was notified by a business employee about a suspicious individual in a black Tesla. When the deputy walked up to the vehicle to make contact with the subject, the driver exited the parking lot at a high rate of speed. The deputy reported the reckless driver over the radio to nearby units.
As the Tesla traveled eastbound on SR 16, it struck an individual on a motorized scooter. With complete disregard to public safety, the driver continued traveling towards the intersection of SR 16 and US-1, where he passed a second SJSO deputy. Once that deputy had a visual on the Tesla, the deputy activated the emergency lights to safely u-turn at the railroad tracks. Just seconds later, the Tesla struck a pole, traveled across all lanes of US-1 and into the parking lot of the Flagler Inn, where it overturned.
The crash occurred before the deputy had time to initiate a traffic stop. Deputies arrived on scene immediately due to the information about a reckless driver in the area. Law enforcement was not in pursuit of the black Tesla and the chain of events were captured on the deputy’s dash camera. The driver of the motorized scooter was pronounced deceased on scene and the driver of the Tesla was transported to the hospital with serious injuries."