Local
Tools
Typography

COLUMBIA COUNTY – A 73-year-old High Springs man was struck and killed early Wednesday morning, Aug. 13, 2025, after being hit by two vehicles while walking along U.S. Highway 41, according to the Florida Highway Patrol (FHP).

Troopers reported the crash occurred at approximately 5:14 a.m., just north of Adams Street in southern Columbia County. Investigators said the man was walking in the northbound lane when he was hit by a sedan driven by a 58-year-old woman from Fort White.

The impact threw the pedestrian into the southbound lane, where he was struck again by a van driven by a 72-year-old man from Lake City. Emergency responders pronounced the man dead at the scene.

Troopers said it was still unclear why the man was walking in the roadway at that hour, or whether lighting or road conditions may have been a factor. The FHP has not released the name of the pedestrian, in keeping with state privacy laws that shield identifying information in traffic fatalities.

U.S. 41 in that area is a two-lane divided highway with limited lighting. The crash closed portions of U.S. 41 for several hours Wednesday morning as investigators documented the scene. The case remains under investigation, and FHP has not indicated whether any charges are anticipated.

Pedestrian deaths remain a concern in Florida, which consistently ranks among the states with the highest rates of pedestrian fatalities nationwide, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration. Safety advocates often point to rural highways such as U.S. 41, where narrow shoulders and limited lighting increase risks for walkers.

The FHP is asking drivers to remain alert, especially during early morning and nighttime hours, and reminding pedestrians to use sidewalks or shoulders whenever possible.

#     #     #

Email cwalker@

alachuatoday.com

View Comments