A man who got into a car accident around 5:30 Wednesday morning was then struck by Jacksonville Sheriff's Office patrol car along I-95 at the Duval/St. Johns County line. 57-year-old Jeffrey Coombs died at Baptist Hospital.
Lt. Bill Leeper with the Florida Highway Patrol identified the officer as Clinton Blankenship, 45, he suffered minor injuries.
Lt. Leeper tells WOKV's Adam Kirk the victim was driving a Mercedes C230 northbound in the right-hand lane when he veered across the road and slammed into the left-hand side guard rail. Coombs got out of his mangled car, walked across the highway, then walked back and was struck by a northbound police officer who was heading to work.
Lt. Leeper tells WOKV's Adam Kirk the victim was driving a Mercedes C230 northbound in the right-hand lane when he veered across the road and slammed into the left-hand side guard rail. Coombs got out of his mangled car, walked across the highway, then walked back and was struck by a northbound police officer who was heading to work.
"I was driving northbound in the far right lane, and a regular passenger car passed me in the center lane, a patrol car passed me in the far left lane, and then as they cleared me, the patrol car darted across the street over all three lanes onto the shoulder. I braked to avoid anybody and pulled over to the side of the road to assist the police officer and then helped him out of the patrol car because the drivers side door wouldn't open," said truck driver Churck Nonnenman.
Officer Blankenship did not have his lights or siren on at the time, and was not responding to a call. Leeper said charges are not expected, and it appears the officer did not see the victim because it was too dark.
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