JACKSONVILLE, FL : Man killed in crash on I-95 at Old St. Augustine Road on Thursday, December 22nd2016

A 28-year-old man from New Jersey was killed in an accident on Interstate 95 at Old St. Augustine Road early Thursday morning, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.

A crash report said Hezekiah Griggs III, from Passaic, New Jersey, died when his Mercedes was hit by a tractor-trailer about 12:30 a.m. Thursday.

The report said Griggs' car was parked in the safety zone between the right lane of the interstate and the exit ramp to Old St. Augustine Road. Kenty Verdier, 32, of Jacksonville, was driving the tractor trailer and told state troopers he was in the exit lane but tried to merge onto the interstate when he hit the rear of Griggs' car.

Griggs died at the scene about 900 miles from his home.

The right lane of I-95 south, in area currently under construction, was closed for nearly nine hours. Ron Tittle, spokesperson for the Florida Department of Transportation said that lane was recently extended.

"With the latest changes, we have that one lane with people going 95 southbound, you get off on Old St. Augustine Road, and it gives you an opportunity for you to get into that outside lane, and you can stay in that lane that is dedicated to the ramp," Tittle said.

The area is constantly changing with improvements, which is why Tittle warned drivers to be extra cautious.

"It is still in a construction zone. People need to be aware when we are doing construction, and it is a lot better, as far as improvements, because it does lengthen the lanes and makes it safer for the merge points," Tittle said."Especially during the holidays, it breaks our hearts when we hear of fatalities. And, unfortunately, you hear of fatalities everyday on the road way, and again, our vision is zero fatalities, zero deaths, and we really work toward doing things that are designed for folks to be safer when driving."

Griggs' Facebook page showed he was a venture capitalist, an entrepreneur and a well-known motivational speaker.

"Seeing a young man come out of my hometown, spreading positivity and love, make me extremely proud and happy. Having that end is saddening because I see the town going downhill without people like you," Gregg Jordan wrote.

Many of those who knew him posted messages of sympathy on the page.

"My heart is hurting right now ... I just spoke to him on the phone," LaToya Owens said in a post.

Charges are pending in the case.

Source :
Man killed in crash on I-95 at Old St. Augustine Road