Second similar fatality in 2 months on Mathews Bridge; woman’s disabled SUV crashed into

Two months since a Jacksonville woman died after her car broke down on the Mathews Bridge, another suffered a similar fate.

Sunday at about 5 a.m. a 39-year-old Jacksonville woman’s SUV became disabled on the center concrete barrier facing westbound on the bridge, according to the Florida Highway Patrol. A woman also westbound in her car then struck the SUV, killing the 39-year-old.

The car’s 33-year-old driver, also from Jacksonville, had minor injuries. Both were wearing seat belts and were the only occupants, according to the Highway Patrol crash report.

On Dec. 8 Jareesha Wilkerson’s disabled car also was crashed into near the top of the Mathews Bridge by a pickup truck and then that truck was struck by an SUV, the Sheriff’s Office said. Another three-car collision followed in a chain reaction.

Although no one reported seeing anyone walking away or going over the railing, Wilkerson’s phone was found inside her car and a week later the 27-year-old’s body was recovered from the St. Johns River, the Sheriff’s Office said.

Her friend who was on the phone with her that night said the last thing she heard her say was “this stupid car,” according to the incident report. She said she was constantly having problems with her car losing power but that she knew how to fix it and would have gotten out to take a look.

Sunday’s traffic fatality was the 20th this year in Duval County, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

(This story has been updated with minor adjustments.)

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville woman dies in Mathews Bridge crash after car was disabled

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