Truck Driver Dies In Fiery Wreck On I-95

WJXT-TV
6:19 p.m. EST January 22, 2008

ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. - All Interstate 95 southbound lanes at State Road 206 in St. Johns County were shut down for nearly four hours Tuesday morning after a fatal accident involving two tractor-trailers. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a big rig stopped in the right emergency lane to change drivers about 2:30 a.m. Troopers said that the vehicle pulled back onto the highway into the path of a second semi.

"That vehicle struck that other vehicle in the rear, and really exploded into flames," FHP Lt. Bill Leeper said.

The second tractor-trailer burned to its frame and driver Jeremy Garvin, 35, of Gainesville, died at the scene.

The driver and passenger of the first big rig -- Brian Burroughs, 26, and Jerell Johnson, 23, both of Adel, Ga. -- were not hurt. According to the FHP, charges are pending.

"It's 70 mph out here, and when a vehicle is traveling real slow and that strikes, obviously, a lot of damage is going to occur," Leeper said. "They could have stopped at the rest area just north of there or could have gone down the road and got off on U.S. 1 to switch. The other driver should have seen him moving out into traffic."

I-95 southbound traffic was diverted on S.R. 206 to U.S. Highway 1 until after 7 a.m., when two of three southbound lanes reopened.

There was debris scattered on the road and FHP said cleanup continued through 5 p.m. The inside lane had to be inspected by Florida Department of Transportation investigators before being reopened.

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Jeremy Garvin drove the truck that I unloaded first thing each morning at my job... we were freinds... I waited till today to put this up as I was rather angry about the whole incident. This crash occured only about a mile to a mile and a 1/2 south of a really nice rest area... senseless tragidy...

Really makes me wonder if they just give Class A license to just anyone these days....

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I want to make the point that if you drive, THINK before pulling into traffic, THINK before changing lanes, THINK before cutting off a 50,000 pound tractor trailer, especially if you are also driving a 50,000 pound tractor trailer.

I will be doing a 3d render in honour of my friend -