Jacksonville, FL — May 1, 2025, one person was killed in a tow truck accident at about 10:35 a.m. at Blanding Boulevard and San Juan Avenue.

Authorities said a tow truck was heading south when it collided with an e-bike while trying to turn right onto San Juan Avenue.

The bicyclist, described only as a woman in her mid-30s, was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, according to authorities. Her name has not been made public at this time.

The truck driver is cooperating with investigators, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Jacksonville County crash.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When a turning tow truck collides with a bicyclist, particularly one operating an e-bike, the investigation must focus on whether the driver took the necessary steps to ensure the path was clear before making the turn. Commercial drivers are expected to anticipate the presence of cyclists in urban environments and take specific precautions when turning, especially to the right, where blind spots and visibility issues make these collisions both common and preventable.

Right-hand turns involving large vehicles pose a well-documented risk to cyclists and pedestrians. The law expects drivers of tow trucks and other commercial vehicles to check mirrors, signal early and yield to anyone in the adjacent lane or on the shoulder, even if that person is operating a smaller, slower vehicle like an e-bike. That duty is even more important in areas like Blanding Boulevard, where dense traffic, multiple travel modes and turning movements converge.

If the cyclist was proceeding straight while the tow truck made its right-hand turn, the truck driver was legally obligated to yield, even if the bicycle was in a bike lane, on the shoulder or legally operating in the travel lane. Failing to do so would suggest a failure to maintain a proper lookout or a misjudgment in turn timing, either of which can lead to civil liability.

Investigators will need to establish the exact position and movement of both the tow truck and the cyclist before the collision. Was the cyclist visible and operating lawfully? Did the truck driver check blind spots and mirrors before beginning the turn? These questions are central to determining fault in what the law would classify as a vehicle-versus-vulnerable-road-user crash.

Ultimately, this incident highlights the importance of commercial drivers treating every turn as a high-risk maneuver, because when a professional driver fails to see a cyclist or e-bike in the turning path, the results are often fatal. And the legal system is clear: when a crash happens under those conditions, the burden falls heavily on the commercial operator to show that the turn was made safely, lawfully and with full awareness of everyone sharing the road.