GAINESVILLE, Fla. – A woman crossed busy Southwest Archer Road against the light during rush hour Friday morning and died after being struck by two vehicles, the Florida Highway Patrol said.
The FHP did not identify the pedestrian but said she walked into the eastbound lanes of Archer Road during a green light near Southwest 63rd Boulevard at about 6:45 a.m. That intersection is about two miles west of Interstate 75. Archer Road is one of the main thoroughfares for drivers entering the city from southwest Alachua County.
Troopers said a 51-year-old driver they did not identify saw the woman crossing and veered, slightly clipping her at a low speed and causing her to fall in traffic. A sedan driven by a 55-year-old woman who troopers also did not identify did not see the woman and struck her, the patrol said. Both drivers stopped and waited for authorities to arrive.
The intersection is particularly busy with a traffic light and bus stop nearby. Traffic was delayed during the police investigation for several hours.
“The traffic is horrible on that road in the morning,” said Michelle Anderson, 40, of Gainesville. “Everyone cutting people off and speeding. It’s horrible.”
Anderson said she was near the site of the accident around 7:20 a.m. She saw two cars on the side of the road and the victim covered in the road.
The death marked the 11th fatal pedestrian accident in Alachua County in 2022, according to figures from the Florida Department of Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles. In 2021, there were 12 fatal pedestrian crashes in the county.
___
This is a breaking news story. Check back for further developments. Contact WUFT News by calling 352-392-6397 or emailing news@wuft.org.