Updated: Crash near jail kills one, leaves three in critical condition
Staff report
Updated at 5:30 p.m. with new information
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A head-on crash near the jail this morning left one person dead and three in critical condition.
At about 11:35 a.m., multiple agencies responded to a report of a crash in the 3000 block of NE 38th Avenue, near the Alachua County Jail. A Gainesville Police Department spokesman said one vehicle was driving eastbound in the westbound lane at a high rate of speed and hit a westbound vehicle head-on.
The driver of the vehicle traveling the wrong way was transported to the hospital in critical condition.
A male juvenile passenger in the car that was hit was pronounced deceased. The driver and a back seat passenger in that car were seriously injured and transported to the hospital.
No further information is available at this time.
The same SUV was speeding in excess of 100 mph up 39th from at least 43rd Street!! I can’t believe they got as far as they did.
Wonder who was driving?
There was a lady driving that flew past us.
That does seem like the kind of info that they would release…
Maybe when they press charges?
What a horrific tragedy.
Wow! That’s crazy! I live nearby and heard all the sirens.
This is what I’m wondering to. She flew past us between 15th and waldo. I’m so heartbroken for the people that lost the young man that were not able to move away from her. I pray they live.
A white Buick SUV sped past me near Meadowbrook minutes before this happened driving crazy and passing any vehicles in its way. Would not be surprised if that was the same person who did this!
All the way from meadowbrook? I know they saw her all the way as far back as 43rd street. I just wish something could have stopped her sooner instead of those poor innocent people.
Me too . I just know it was a white smaller suv . Maybe even a Mazda ?
It was the Buick, hit the Toyota head on
My buddy was the juvenile his girlfriend was in the car with him she’s in icu undergoing surgery tonight
I’m sorry about your friend and hope his gf comes through ok.
I am so very sorry. I pray she makes it out ok.
I am so sorry to he
Hey, this is Caitlin’s uncle I was wondering if you knew any more. Her parents are pretty distraught and we (cousins) didn’t want to bother them now.
Hi. I would like to help.
He was a buddy of mine to and I was devastated when I heard the news
Speeding is rampant in Alachua County.
Police need to return to speed enforcement throughout Gainesville. These are irresponsible drivers and they should be punished.
This person was driving east in the westbound lane going at least 100. It was terrifying.
My question with all of the people who claim to seen this car speeding how many took the time to dial 911 and report her because if you didn’t your just as guilty as the driver you had a chance and did nothing i hope you remember it when you sleep the thought of what if i had did something
Yes, GH I agree with you. It is the people’s fault who weren’t even in the car. You know the same people who were busy staying out of the way of this insane driver. Yes, yes, yes, these people are the real ones to blame, not the driver of the car. GH go see a doctor because you are apparently infested with the dumbazz disease.
From the way they all posted after the got out of the way they had plenty of time The problem is most people don’t want to get involved and step up and do something yet want to complain
Hey, I was agreeing with you. It is the fault of the other folks on the road. They should have all banded together and formed a roadblock. Then they could have pooled all their money together and built a jail to put the driver in. Just please be quite and don’t reply, it makes me sick you want to blame other people. I have to go puke now.
I stated the facts as i see them now a question you are out and about a man grabs a woman and attempts to sexily Assault her do you pull a gun and defend her or call 911 or run away and pretend you didn’ t see anything me i pull my gun and she will be the last one he grabs
How do you know people didn’t call? You don’t. All you know is that she wasn’t stopped before she hit somebody.
We were leaving church when we encountered it. At least 3 friends that also saw it called it in.
I was one of those people that she almost ran off the road and I immediately called the police. It was terrifying! I saw when she switched to the wrong side of the road while I was on the phone with the police and I let the operator know what I saw. Unfortunately, it was too late by then. A few seconds later I saw smoke coming from her vehicle.
When she zoomed passed us right before the accident, we immediately called 911. They had already received several calls. She was going about 100 mph. She was seen as far back as meadowbrook and she almost hit us just west of Waldo Road. As fast as she was going, it did not take her long to get to the accident location and unfortunately these innocent people were unable to get out of her way. Even though I called 911, I am having visions and flashbacks. It is tragic, she was focused, both hands on the wheel and I really want to know what was going on with her to go that far, that fast and on the wrong side of the road. I am so heartbroken for the family.
GPD has been underfunded. The “defund the police” movement made things worse. Money was reallocated to other departments. With low wages for police which equals low moral, they are having trouble recruiting. GPD is down a whole shift of personnel. So if you want more police. Vote for pro-police representatives from the city level to the state level.
Learn to call the police when you see someone driving so recklessly
The Police are subdued and held to unreasonable inactivity by the ALACHUA COUNTY AND CITY, Government, we had a Deputy out here on sw 91st street “speedway”, he stayed busy for hours, until he left, the situ is outrageous, every official in this county and City should be fired, and replaced with more responsible leaders, IT ISN’T THE POLICE OFFICER’S AT FAULT, IT IS OUR COUNTY AND CITY OFFICIALS.
People don’t care enough to get into law enforcement with the crazy low pay they get. The job is still going to be short handed no matter how many people you fire and replace at the top. All three larger agencies in Alachua county just got new leadership. Calls for service overwhelm the short staffing levels, there is very limited time for traffic enforcement. If this bothers you, go to the academy and put on a uniform.
The responsible party is the one who was driving. This has nothing to do with local officials or police!
GPD does not allow officers to pursue the vehicle. If an officer tried to stop the vehicle, they would have been fired and sued for violating policy….. makes you wonder who the city is trying to protect
This is a common policy across the country. It’s to avoid potential lawsuits that do happen when ppl blame an accident that causes injury or death on the pursuing officers and thus their departments and jurisdictions.
That’s why normal, non-woke police departments have police helicopters instead of just letting criminals ride off into the sunset.
I don’t believe your statement at all please share how you know this to be fact
Was this the accident very near the airport which we witnessed. One of the vehicles exploded in flames so we don’t know how there was any survivors!!!
The car did not explode. But, it was on Fire! 🔥 I know because I saw it all. In fact I have video.
I’m sure the police would like the video. As a family member of the victims in the car she hit I’m also interested in seeing the video.
I was turning off Waldo Rd onto NW39th Ave and had to swerve out of the way of the speeding white missle coming down the wrong way. Saw a deputy sitting at red light behind me and he witnessed the entire thing. I had no time to see who was driving. Just barely enough time to avoid being hit head on myself. Whoever the driver was, they should never be able to drive again after spending decades in jail. Praying for the surviving victims of this reckless stupidity
My girlfriend and I were visiting from Jacksonville. The white SUV came down our two car lane like she was on a motorcycle l. She barely missed our side mirror! We watched as she took off like a bat out of hell once she got free. We saw her weave and bob and then cross the intersection into oncoming traffic!! When we got to the light we saw police lights go on and I said to my GF, “Ooooh it looks like they caught her and then we saw smoke. We decided to go ahead and see what had happened so we continue continued on and lo and behold we came upon the SUV. It was in the tree with the pole. We also saw the little gray car that she had hit head on. We also saw aWe decided to go ahead and see what had happened so we continue continued on and lo and behold we came upon the SUV. It was in the tree with the pole. We also saw the little gray car that she had hit head on. We also saw a dog come out of the white SUV, one of the bystanders picked the dog up. We watched in horror as the police were trying to get the woman out of the SUV. And then the fire went from underneath the car to the that was squished and open. It took four guys to get the woman out and it was kind of violent because they were in such a hurry of the car blowing up. Luckily, the firetruck came right after they had gotten her out of there, and we watched them put her on a gurney. It looked like her foot was severed. I don’t know if that happened from the accident or her being pulled out of the car. It was just very harrowing. I don’t know the details. If I had to guess I would say she was running from the police, but we don’t know for sure. I know we saw karma happen. But unfortunately, a child died in the other car and the other two people are in critical . So we saw karma take innocent life as well. I hope whatever she was running from or whatever was worth it. I know my girlfriend and I will never be the same.
The passenger and driver of the car she hit are still in ICU, pending even more surgeries. The memorial service for the drivers son is on Monday. We are trying to find answers on what/why it happened
It look like balls all be seeing the car flying bye. What yalls do just hang out
The driver was the one at fault from wish I see on the posts. Don’t blame what others did or did not do. God teaches us that. I can’t judge if I was in their shoes if I was not there. But I do believe people need to step up when they can. But they are not *just as guilty. Pay it forward, step up.step in and learn. Don’t feel it was your fault if you assume they almost got me . Maybe they will quit know. Judgement for comments affirming the unreasonable and wreakless driving may help affirm the unreasonable event.
Then again. Have we confirmed no one called before the final accident?
For all those speculating: GPD will not release any information about 911 calls because it is an open investigation. I asked.