JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — At 9:03 AM on Monday, Erick Solomon and Miranda Capers lost their son in a crash. His name was De’Juan Solomon, known as “Dae-Dae” to his parents, who said he was also their best friend.
“It’s been unreal,” said Capers, Solomon’s mother, “it’s like a nightmare I wish I could wake up from.”
Florida Highway Patrol said Solomon was walking across Martin Luther King Junior Parkway using the Fairfax Street crosswalk when the crash happened. FHP said Solomon had almost crossed the street when a truck tractor driving in the right lane went through the intersection and hit him. He died in the crash.
FHP hasn’t shared whether the truck driver is facing any charges, ran a red light or was speeding at the time of the crash. But Solomon’s parents believe speeding is an issue along Martin Luther King Junior Parkway, particularly around the bend before Fairfax Street.
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“You don’t realize you got a crosswalk there until you get out of that turn, and by that time it is pretty much too late,” said Erick Solomon, De’Juan’s father.
Solomon is the second person who has died while walking across this intersection in less than a year. Action News Jax told you in May 2025 when FHP reported a woman died after being hit by a car while walking the same crosswalk.
Martin Luther King Junior Parkway is maintained by the Florida Department of Transportation, which currently has more than 30 projects underway in Duval County. We reached out to FDOT asking, because of the pedestrian deaths along the road, if it may consider future safety-related projects at or near the Fairfax Street intersection.
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FDOT sent us a statement saying in part:
“Our hearts break whenever we learn of a fatality or serious injury on the roadway. To that end, reviewing crash reports is critical to understanding crash causes and prevention. Since the crash that occurred recently is still pending investigation, questions about the crash should be directed to law enforcement. As is standard operating procedure, FDOT reviews all reported crashes on state roadways and interstates – a special emphasis is placed on fatalities and crashes with injuries. If improvements are identified that could enhance the safety of the roadway, FDOT will work to implement them.”
For Solomon’s parents, who describe him as a man who loved gaming, wrestling and his family, they told Action News Jax nothing will ever make up for the loss of someone with as big of a heart as his.
“I’m waiting for him to walk through the door and he’s just not,” Capers said.
If you’d like to support Solomon’s family during this time, you can do so by clicking here.
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