Driver ejected from vehicle after striking a palm tree

At 2:16 p.m. this afternoon, Historic City News was informed that the St. Augustine Police Department was responding to single car crash on Ponce de Leon Boulevard, just south of San Carlos Avenue.

Public Information Officer Mark Samson reported that a southbound driver, identified as John Wesley Heath III, lost control of his car and drove onto the median striking a tree.

“Both inside lanes were blocked for about two hours to conduct the investigation,” Samson told local reporters. “It is unsure if speed or alcohol contributed to this crash.”

Heath was not wearing a seatbelt and was ejected from his car on impact. St Johns County Fire Rescue determined that the driver’s condition was severe enough that he be airlifted to UF Health Jacksonville’s trauma center.

Heath’s family was at the scene of the crash and drove to Jacksonville to be with him.

The investigation is on-going and no charges have been filed at this time.