St. Johns County Sheriff David Shoar, the rest of the Sheriff’s Office family and Historic City News extends condolences to Detective Charles “Kip” Brantley and his wife Cindy for the loss of their 18-year old son this morning in a single car accident.
The victim, Charles “Trey” O. Brantley III, 18, died from injuries he sustained in a single car crash on Racetrack Rd. earlier today.
Deputies responded to a report of a vehicle crash on Racetrack Rd., 500 feet east of Hummingbird Cr., in Fruit Cove, at 8:30 a.m. The victim was extricated from his vehicle by County Rescue Personnel and was pronounced dead before he could be air lifted to a Jacksonville hospital. The victim was wearing a seatbelt and speed was not a factor in the crash.
According to witnesses the victim was driving his 2000 Saturn westbound on Racetrack Rd. when the vehicle in front of him swerved slightly to avoid a dead raccoon in the road. Brantley then attempted to swerve around the animal, over corrected, then lost control of the vehicle and jumped the median and then struck a tree nearly head on.
Brantley would have entered his senior year at Bartram Trail High School this fall and was enrolled in the Business Academy at the school. He carried a 3.6 GPA and as part of the academy he was employed at the Vystar Credit Union in Fruit Cove. He was on his way to work this morning when the crash occurred. He was also very active in his church, Turning Point at Calvary Baptist Church, S.R. 16, where he sang in the Church Choir.
In addition to his parents, Trey leaves behind a sister: Cassandra, 19 and a step-brother: Christopher Mackley, 28.
Funeral arrangements will be announced at a later time.
The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office Traffic Homicide Unit is investigating the crash.
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