Zarell Crittenden, 27, of Jacksonville, was driving home from bible study at his church on New Year’s Day when a driver going the wrong way caused a fatal crash.
Florida Highway Patrol (FHP) officials say the crash happened around 9:50 PM on the Arlington Expressway. The traffic report states that Asea Hollingshed, 28, was driving a Volkswagen Passat westbound in the eastbound lane. The Passat struck a Ford Fusion, driven by Zarell Crittenden, who was going east in the eastbound lane. Following the collision, the Fusion rotated and struck a third car in the outside eastbound lane. Sadly, Crittendon was pronounced dead at the scene, while Hollingshed was taken to a local hospital for treatment. The driver of the third car was not injured.
Family members say Crittenden was a husband and father of three young children. He was the music engineer at Christian United Church, and was a graduate of Terry Parker High School.
According to Florida Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles (FLHSMV), wrong-way crashes are most likely to occur at night. Most of these crashes are head-on collisions, resulting in 81 percent of all wrong way fatalities. FLHSMV recommends drivers stay alert and pay attention to signs, and stay in the right lane as much as possible. If you see a wrong-way driver approaching, FLHSMV suggests you slow down, pull off the roadway, and call 911 to report the driver.