Troopers investigate deadly Arlington Expressway crash

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Troopers are working to find out who was behind the wheel of a deadly crash Thursday on Arlington Expressway.

FHP says the driver of a Jeep lost control and flipped on its side, leaving a 61-year-old dead. Witnesses told authorities someone was seen getting out of the car and leaving the area after it happened.

“We heard like a ‘boom’ and seen some smoke and ran out to render aid to the gentlemen that were laying the back of the vehicle,” Anthony Pitts said. “By the time we got there, he was already black and blue in the face.”

Viewer videos and pictures sent to Action News Jax showed the chaotic aftermath.

Witnesses said they saw a man get out of the car and leave, he has a slim build and dirty blonde hair and wore a t-shirt with gray shorts, according to the descriptions.

Anthony Pitts works nearby and said he and a coworker tried to help out but said he didn’t see anyone else.

“We shut the vehicle off to save it from catching on fire,” Pitts said.

Action News Jax Law and Safety expert Dale Carson said if that man who left the scene was driving he faces some serious punishment, potentially.

“If they were merely a passenger they would have an action against the individual’s insurance who was driving the car,” Carson said. “Leaving the scene of an accident with an injury is a third-degree felony punishable up to five years, but if you leave the scene of a fatality that is a first-degree felony punishable by up to 30 years.”

For Pitts, he said it was troubling to see.

“To be honest with you I really didn’t want to come to work today. To walk out of my job where I work and see a man just passed away…he didn’t deserve that nobody does,” Pitts said.

Carson said DNA around the vehicle will help investigators find out what happened and who was driving. FHP is also asking the public for any information to come forward.

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