Local

SUV knocks out traffic lights at Southside and Baymeadows

You'll want to avoid Southside Boulevard and Baymeadows Road most of the day Friday after a sport utility vehicle took out the electrical box that feeds the traffic light, leaving the intersection completely dark.

The Jacksonville Sheriff's Office says it happened around 1 a.m. when an individual driving an SUV northbound on Southside lost control of the vehicle approaching Baymeadows, striking the electrical box.

We're told the driver was transported by rescue to a hospital for treatment. The driver was not believed to be under the influence, but JSO says it's unclear for now why the SUV ran off the road.

JEA crews were on scene most of the overnight but left around 5 a.m. after repairing some of the damage. A spokeswoman for JEA tells us they've done all the repair work they can do for now and it's up to the City of Jacksonville to replace the damaged box before they can come back in to restore the power.

The lights are expected to resume working by close of business today, according to City of Jacksonville spokeswoman Tia Ford.

"[The] signal has fiber optics connections and video detectors that will require additional time to repair," Ford added.

JSO is asking all drivers who travel through Southside and Baymeadows to get to FSCJ, the Avenues, or to get home to treat the intersection as a four-way stop until the lights are fixed and to obey the commands of the officers in the intersection guiding traffic.

Traffic lights out at Southside and Baymeadows after an SUV takes out an electrical box. Story at WOKV.com.

Posted by News 104.5 WOKV on Friday, August 26, 2016

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