PALATKA, Fla. — All lanes are now open after a major traffic crash involving four cars on U.S. 17 at Masters Road in East Palatka.
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According to Florida Highway Patrol, the crash occurred around 6:48 a.m. Detectives believe that at that time, a 41-year-old woman from East Palatka was driving her sedan down the outside northbound lane of U.S. 17. At the same time, a pickup truck was driving in the inside lane. In the southbound lanes, a 47-year-old driver from Palatka and a 41-year-old woman from Hastings were driving their sedans.
The sedan driver from East Palatka tried to change lanes and hit the front right side of the pickup truck. The sedan driver lost control of the car and crossed the inside lane and left turn lane before entering into the inside lane of southbound U.S.17 in front of the sedan from Palatka.
The sedan from Palatka crashed into the driver side of the sedan from East Palatka, pushing it into the outside lane and into the the driver side of the sedan from Hastings.
All the sedans came to a final rest at the collision scene. The pickup truck fled the scene.
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The 41-year-old driver of the sedan from East Palatka was transported to HCA Florida Orange Park in critical but stable condition. The 47-year-old sedan driver from the sedan from Palatka was transported to HCA Florida Putnam with minor injuries. There was also an 8-month-old baby in the sedan from Hastings, but the child was unharmed.
As of 11:01 a.m., the crash has been cleared, and traffic is moving slowly. It is expected to get back to normal soon.