The Florida Highway Patrol said two separate crashes on Interstate 95 at Philips Highway closed at least two northbound lanes in Jacksonville, Fla., on Thursday night. One of the vehicles struck a massive tree, and the tree fell into the roadway, blocking three lanes.
Four vehicles were involved, and no injuries were reported. For drivers headed north, the disruption meant the closure was not just from the crashes themselves but also from the tree that had to be removed before traffic could keep moving.
Philips Highway in Jacksonville
Traffic began clearing around 10 p.m. after crews removed the tree. Even then, two lanes remained blocked, so the roadway was not fully back to normal after the initial crash response.
The sequence matters for drivers passing through the area: first the crashes closed lanes, then the fallen tree widened the blockage to three lanes, and later cleanup opened part of the route again. That left northbound traffic with fewer lanes available even after crews worked the scene.
Interstate 95 northbound lanes
The Florida Highway Patrol’s account leaves one practical point unanswered for anyone trying to sort out the scene: which vehicle struck the tree. What is clear is that the tree fall turned two crashes into a larger lane closure on a major route through Jacksonville.
Drivers using Interstate 95 northbound at Philips Highway had to deal with a partial reopening after 10 p.m., not a full return to normal flow. Two lanes were still blocked after the tree was removed, so traffic moving through the area likely continued to slow where the closure narrowed the road.
