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Fatal traffic crash blocks U.S. 301

Update 4:58 p.m. - Arandall Shears died at Shands Tuesday afternoon, WJXT and WOKV in Jacksonville are reporting.

A military humvee overturned in the median of Bradford County's U.S. Route 301 Tuesday morning, throwing a Florida Army National Guard soldier from the vehicle.

U.S. Route 301 was blocked completely for a short time after the crash at 11:26 a.m. and during the rescue effort, but the outside lanes of both northbound and southbound have been reopened.

According to the Bradford County Department of Emergency Management, the driver, Arandall Ladarrion Shears, attempted to change lanes and lost control.

Bradford County Emergency Management Director Brian Johns witnessed the accident and stopped to render aid. He found Shears unresponsive and moments later, Shears' heart stopped.

Shears' pulse was restored after Johns and other bystanders began CPR. Shears was taken to Shands Hospital, where he is now in critical condition, according to Florida Highway Patrol spokesman Sgt. Dylan Bryan.

The crash is still under investigation by the Florida Highway Patrol.

Mike is a reporter who can be contacted by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.