JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2013 A dangerous intersection on the city\u2019s Westside has become a recurring problem for Florida State College at Jacksonville after drivers repeatedly crashed into the brick entrance sign at the school\u2019s Kent Campus, leaving the marker badly damaged.<\/p>\n
News4JAX Reporter Scott Johnson drives the stretch daily and began looking into the problem after noticing the damaged entrance. At the intersection of U.S. 17 and Plymouth Road, he found four roadside crosses bearing the names of five people who died there.<\/p>\n
\u201cNo, I\u2019m not surprised,\u201d Janice Moody, a nearby resident, said. \u201cIt\u2019s Jacksonville. A lot of things happen. You just have to be a safe driver. Drive safe and sometimes you have to drive for other people.\u201d Another driver said she was \u201ca little bit\u201d surprised, but called U.S. 17 \u201ca busy street here in rush hour.\u201d<\/p>\n
FSCJ President John Avendano confirmed the crashes. He said the problem is largely a late\u2011night issue \u2014 a \u201c2 a.m. problem,\u201d when drivers often speed through the area \u2014 and has been considering ways to make the entrance less vulnerable.<\/p>\n
News4JAX found 25 crashes at the intersection since 2020, including a 2020 wreck that killed Chelsey Turner; her name appears on one of the memorial markers.<\/p>\n