Three traffic fatalities reported in St Johns County in last week

Over the past week Historic City News received three reports of fatal traffic crashes in St Johns County. All crashes were investigated by Troop G of the Florida Highway Patrol in St Augustine.

• The first death occurred on September 24th. St Augustine resident, 29-year-old Michael L. Farrell III, was driving a 2002 Mitsubishi Diamante westbound on CR-208. As Farrell continued through the T­intersection of CR-13, he applied the brakes as it proceeded onto the west shoulder. The right front of the vehicle struck several trees, causing the vehicle to spin clockwise and overturn. Farrell was ejected before the vehicle came to final rest, upside down in water on top of the driver.
  

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• Then, about 10:04 p.m. on September 28th, the driver of a 2004 white KIA Spectra, struck and killed a pedestrian on SR-16 at Four Mile Road. The driver, 28-year-old Amanda Plummer of Palm Coast, struck 30-year-old Matthew N. Metcalf of St Augustine, who was pronounced dead at the scene. Plummer was transported to Flagler Hospital with minor injuries and released. The crash is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.
  

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• Finally, charges are pending in a car-vs-motorcycle crash that occurred just before noon on October 1st, on US-1 at Watson Road. A 2008 Toyota Scion XB driven by 70-year-old Kitty Cooper of St Augustine was stopped at the red traffic light in the northbound left-turn lane on US-1. A 2003 Harley Davidson FXD driven by 56-year-old David Piper of St Augustine was traveling south in the outside lane on US-1 approaching the intersection. The traffic light changed to green for the northbound and southbound lanes, however, Cooper believed that she had a protected left-turn arrow. She turned left into traffic onto Watson Road and failed to see the motorcycle. Piper reportedly did not have time to react before he collided with the right passenger door of the Toyota. The motorcycle overturned onto its side, separating from the rider. Both parties were transported to Flagler Hospital where Piper died of his injuries.
  

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