ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. — A pedestrian was struck and killed by a semi-truck on Tuesday morning after fleeing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers in St. Johns County, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP). The incident occurred around 6:35 a.m. on July 14 at the intersection of State Road 16 eastbound and Green Acres Road. Authorities confirmed that four occupants of a vehicle fled upon encountering ICE agents and Homeland Security Investigators at a nearby Wawa, leading to the fatal collision.
Details of the Fatal Crash
The FHP crash report indicates that "Vehicle 1 was traveling on SR 16 eastbound in the right lane" when it struck the pedestrian who was attempting to cross from north to south. The tractor-trailer driver, identified as a 64-year-old man from Lake City, stopped immediately and attempted to assist the victim, Master Sgt. Dylan Bryan stated in an official release. The deceased individual is listed as a 28-year-old male with no known hometown; his immigration status and nationality were not released by authorities.
The incident follows heightened national scrutiny of ICE operations. According to reports from Reuters, two sources briefed on the matter told the agency that officers should suspend most vehicle stops nationwide after agents fatally shot two men in Texas and Maine within six days. The Florida incident occurred one day after an ICE officer killed a driver in Biddeford, Maine.
Political Reaction to Immigration Enforcement
The crash has drawn sharp criticism from state political figures regarding the safety implications of federal immigration raids. State Rep. Angie Nixon (D-Jacksonville), who is running for U.S. Senate, issued a statement condemning the agency's tactics. "My heart breaks for the family and loved ones of the person who lost their life this morning in St. Johns County," Nixon said. She argued that the tragedy was a direct result of an "out-of-control agency terrorizing our communities" and highlighted similar incidents in Houston and Maine.
The Florida Immigrant Coalition also responded to the event, with communications director Adriana Rivera stating that running is a understandable reaction when federal agents initiate encounters that spark panic. Rivera noted that people run because they fear kidnapping, detention, family separation, or death. She characterized these events not as coincidences but as consequences of a system prioritizing aggressive enforcement over human life.
Investigations into the specific reasons for ICE's involvement at the Wawa and the victim's nationality remain ongoing. The Florida Times-Union reporter Scott Butler, who specializes in public safety coverage, provided initial reporting on the developing story from Jacksonville.
