JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A driver slammed into the protective barrier in a fatal crash at Naval Air Station Jacksonville early on Thursday morning, officials said.
“Usually people call the police they have help to come to the scene of the accident but who knows why he actually ran and now we’ll never know now,” said Becky Bellottie who manages a dollar general near the base.
Around 6:30 a.m., a driver attempted to run the Birmingham Gate at NAS Jax. Sentries deployed the protective barrier to prevent the car from entering the station. The driver died in the crash. Officials said the driver had no known military affiliation.
“We just believe he at this point was just trying to invade the initial collision and decided to turn left at Birmingham gate probably didn’t realize what it was. But again that’s speculation," said Trooper Dylan Bryan.
The Birmingham Gate is partially still open as law enforcement agencies are still investigating. Drivers can access the station through the Yorktown and Allegheny Gates.
“We want to find out exactly what he was doing that led to the initial crash investigation as well as why he was trying to gain access to NAS jax," said Bryan." At this time we don’t think it was an intentional act as far as an intentional breach of U.S. government facility meaning any type of domestic terrorism or anything like that none of that is suspected at this time."
While Bellottie didn’t see the crash she wishes the driver would have handled the situation differently.
“He should’ve taken responsibility for the hit and run and shouldn’t have ran from the accident and none of this would’ve ever occurred and its just sad that he lost his life," said Bellottie.
Birmingham Avenue to Biscayne Street and Saratoga Avenue South to Wild Avenue are currently closed, officials said.
If you have any information about the incident, please contact NCIS at 808- 478-8353.
This is a developing story.
