Update: Two women killed in head-on crash on Williston Road
Staff report from Alachua County Fire Rescue release
Updated at 2:30 p.m. from Florida Highway Patrol release
Updated at 2:00 p.m. on December 4 with information about one of the victims.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Two women were killed this morning in a head-on crash on Williston Road near Wacahoota Road.
At about 4:49 a.m., Alachua County Fire Rescue units responded to a report of a crash on Williston Road near Wacahoota Road and found two heavily damaged vehicles that had been involved in a head-on crash. Crews extricated one of the drivers, and two patients were transported to local hospitals.
According to a Florida Highway Patrol release, a sedan driven by a 30-year-old Gainesville woman was traveling southbound on Williston Road when it crossed the center line into the path of a northbound sedan driven by a 57-year-old Crystal River woman. Both drivers were transported to UF Health Shands, where they were pronounced deceased. The 30-year-old woman was not wearing a seatbelt; the 57-year-old woman was wearing a seatbelt.
Main Street Daily News has reported that the 57-year-old woman was I Am Country 106.9’s morning host, Heather Jennings. Jennings became the morning host on November 4 and was on her way to work when her car was hit on Williston Road.
I have known the 57 year old woman for over 35 years. She was a good woman, with 2 adult children. I’m sure they will be very sad and will miss their mother. Such a tragedy….
Very sad. Prayers to the families!
Its horrible and so heartbreaking! Prayer to the entire family.
She was my next door neighbor and great friend. I will miss her a lot.
Are you shelly parrish’s family?
Are you shelly parrish’s family?
Crossing over the center line. Wonder if the 30 y.o. was using a cell phone at the time?
RIP
Williston road it terrible. I cannot drive on it without someone tailgating or passing me and I drive slightly above the speed limit. Few people have any patience anymore. Between the deer and the idiots driving over the center line it is a bad road.
I have the same experience in SR121 (and SR 24, and SR26 and SR 200) which I drive in the early morning hours, as well as other times of the day. Amazingly, there are many drivers who refuse to use their headlights at dawn and dusk and during thunderstorms and who insist on passing other vehicles that are going the speed limit and even over the speed limit on these 2 lane country roads. They might get where they are going a minute or two quicker, but they also risk fatal head on collisions to do so.
Add in the cell phones… We all really need to put them away while we are driving!
Williston Rd./121 is not a terrible road. It’s actually a beautiful country road that’s been an important travel artery for our region for many, many years. Sadly, there are many road side memorial markers that testify to the terrible driving that has resulted in many deaths on that road between Williston and Gainesville. We drivers need to do better. What a needless tragic loss for the families and friends of these 2 women, and horrific memories for the first responders and any witnesses.
It really is a shame, no good comes from this. Williston road is a death trap, too many impatient people fighting for pole position. It is 16 miles from I75 to Williston, at the speed limit it takes a reasonable 16 minutes. If someone was doing 70 it takes ~14 minutes. It is not worth the hazard to save a couple minutes. Coming from someone who has never had a speeding ticket at almost 40, slow down and enjoy the ride. I hope there was some mechanical failure and not a mental one, prayers for all involved.
Why isn’t the other woman’s name released?????
Prayers to both families. 🙏