Jacksonville authorities are investigating a fatal traffic crash involving an off-duty Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (JSO) officer that occurred early Saturday morning, December 21, 2024, in the 1400 block of Kings Road.
Around 5:00 a.m., while en route to roll call in a marked patrol car, the officer struck a pedestrian who walked into the vehicle’s path outside of a marked crosswalk. The victim, described as a Black male in his mid-40s, was hit near the front left bumper of the patrol car.
Emergency responders from Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department (JFRD) pronounced the man deceased at the scene. Investigators from JSO’s Traffic Homicide Unit have begun reviewing the circumstances of the crash, including whether impairment was involved. Preliminary findings suggest speed was not a factor, as the speed limit in the area is 30 mph.
The officer, who was reportedly shaken by the incident, has been placed on administrative leave to receive counseling. The airbags in the patrol car did not deploy during the crash.
Efforts to confirm the identity of the victim and notify next of kin are ongoing. Investigators continue to examine events leading up to the crash.
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