JACKSONVILLE, FA – A woman who lost her 7-year-old sister in a crash on the Buckman Bridge last year says Monday’s fatal collision serves as a painful reminder of how dangerous that bridge can be.
Interstate 295 southbound on the Buckman Bridge reopened around 12:45 p.m. Monday after being closed for nearly seven hours. According to the Florida Highway Patrol, a 28-year-old man driving a pickup truck struck the back of a box truck that was disabled in the left emergency lane south of U.S. 17. The crash happened around 6 a.m., and the pickup driver, who was wearing a seat belt, died at the scene.
For Shawndell McGriff, the tragedy brings back the devastating memory of losing her sister, Serenity Holland, in a crash at the same location in the summer of 2024.
“Speeding drivers are just dangerous, and there’s not much that separates the cars from the water if there is an accident,” McGriff said.
McGriff recalled that her family was traveling on the Buckman Bridge when a driver, identified as Quinttarius Donald, struck their vehicle, leading to Serenity’s death. Donald left the scene but was later arrested. He is facing one count of vehicular homicide and driving with a suspended license and is scheduled for arraignment on July 2.
“There’s no amount of time that will, I guess, matter based on her life that won’t equal up to it,” McGriff said. “But just a slap on the wrist won’t help heal us at all.”
The Florida Highway Patrol shared data showing the scope of crashes on the Buckman Bridge over the past three years:
| Year | Fatal Injury | Incapacitating Injury | Non-incapacitating Injury | Possible Injury | Property Damage Only | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2023 | 1 | 6 | 17 | 18 | 101 | 143 |
| 2024 | 1 | 2 | 16 | 20 | 96 | 135 |
| 2025 | – | – | 9 | 3 | 39 | 51 |
| Total | 2 | 8 | 42 | 41 | 236 | 329 |
For McGriff and her family, the bridge is now forever linked to heartbreak. She hopes that drivers will slow down and pay closer attention to speed limits when crossing.
