ST. JOHNS COUNTY, Fla. — Two teens are in critical condition after a serious crash near Nease High School.
People told Action News Jax they have concerns about the safety of the intersection. Many drivers said other either gun it or hesitate to turn at the intersection. Many students said the area needs to have a stop light.
The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. on Monday.
Photos: Possible fatal crash on U.S. 1 near Nease High
Troopers said a 17-year-old and 15-year-old were inside a Toyota Corolla when the 17-year-old failed to yield for a Hyundai that had the right of way on U.S. 1 near Ray Road.
The Florida Highway Patrol listed the crash on its traffic crash report website as a "possible fatal" crash. The crash temporarily blocked all southbound lanes and two northbound lanes on U.S. 1 for hours.
According to FHP, three vehicles were affected by the crash -- a Toyota Corolla, Hyundai Santa Fe and Jeep Wrangler.
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The Corolla was stopped on Ray Road facing west. The Corolla "attempted to cross northbound lanes of U.S. 1 and failed to yield the right of way to the Hyundai. This caused the front left of the Hyundai to strike the left side of the Corolla," according to the release.
The crash sent the Corolla across westbound lanes of U.S. 1, landing in a ditch. The Santa Fe, driven by 39-year-old Donald Graves II of Ponte Vedra, rotated counter-clockwise and ended up in the grass median of U.S. 1 facing southeast, FHP said.
Debris from the crash hit the front and windshield of the Jeep Wrangler, which was stopped in the center paved median of U.S. 1.
Firefighters said three people were injured.
Graves was seriously injured and taken to Baptist South. The teen girls in the Corolla were airlifted to Orange Park Medical Center and UF Health Jacksonville in critical condition, officials said.
The Jeep, driven by 38-year-old Kristina Holloway of St. Johns County, had two 15-year-old girls in the car. No one in the Jeep was hurt.
Officials have not identified the victims.
Action News Jax has been in touch with a teacher and a Nease High School parent who were at the scene. They said the two girls critically injured are Nease students.
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Action News Jax obtained cellphone video of a chopper over the scene and found a social media post of a rescue chopper that landed on the school's field.
One from @NeaseStudentSec said: “Prayers being sent out to any students and family members affected tonight.”