Details in collision with former commissioner

Historic City News has learned more about yesterday’s two-vehicle collision in the 6800 block of SR-207 that sent 63 year-old Craig A. Maguire to the hospital, by air ambulance, with serious, but not life threatening, injuries.

According to Sheriff’s Media Relations Officer Kevin Kelshaw, the investigation has revealed that a 2007 Peterbilt flat-bed semi tractor trailer, driven by 81 year-old Henry O. Green from Ft. Lauderdale, slowed to make a right-hand turn off of SR-207, northbound, into a pasture.

Maguire, driving his 2004 Ford Expedition SUV, approached, and struck, the rear of the flat-bed trailer; while it was still in the roadway near Elkton.

Deputies responded to the crash at 3:12 p.m.

Maguire was treated at the scene by St. Johns County emergency medical personnel and was transported to Shands Hospital Jacksonville for additional treatment.

The driver of the tractor trailer sustained no reported injuries.

Maguire served as a St. Johns County commissioner for eight years; leaving office in 1996. His twin brother, Bruce A. Maguire, who also served as a St. Johns County commissioner, was at the hospital with him until about 11:00 p.m. last night.

Bruce Maguire explained what he knew about the incident to Historic City News Editor Michael Gold this morning.

Maguire recalled that about 15 years ago when he was traveling in Tacoma, he had an unexplainable urge to call his brother, Craig. “So much so, that I pulled the car over and used a pay phone to make the call back home.” When the call was answered, he learned that Craig had just been seriously injured in a fireworks explosion — only minutes beforehand.

“I had no idea before the accident; I didn’t have enough time to call anyone, this time,” Bruce told Historic City News. “I received a call from Wayne Hickox, who said he heard from Commissioner Ron Sanchez, and was hoping it wasn’t true.” While he was on the phone with Hickox, Maguire said he was interrupted by a call waiting — it was Sheriff David Shoar with the same news. So much for anecdotal data supporting the idea of “twin telepathy”, I suppose.

According to family members, the injured Maguire was “conscious, alert and talking” last night. His brother said that he lost a lot of blood; sustained in a laceration injury across the top of his head. “If you had seen his Expedition,” Bruce Maguire said, “you wouldn’t have thought he made it out alive. He’s very lucky to still be with us.”

Kelshaw says charges are pending further investigation.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News contributed photograph by SJSO